Caregivers often assist with providing prescription and non-prescription medications to seniors. Medication abuse is misusing medications on purpose or by accident. Medication abuse can have serious health complications for older adults.
Examples of medication abuse include:
- the misuse of medications, prescriptions or mood altering substances on purpose or by accident
- over-medication
- not providing adequate or appropriate medication when needed or when prescribed
Signs of Medication Abuse
- reduced mental or physical activity
- depression
- making inconsistent statements
- appearing confused
NOTE: Some of these indicators may be present and the older adult is not being abused. These are only possible signs of abuse.
For more information, please view CPLEA’s Let’s talk: Elder abuse resource manual.
