Home Health Strategies for Managing Polypharmacy Risks

Medication management is essential for improving patient outcomes. Poor adherence or mismanagement can worsen health conditions, lead to avoidable hospital visits or even result in death.  

Polypharmacy further complicates these challenges. We know that 89% of adults over 65 take at least one medication, and 54% are also taking four or more prescription drugs. ¹ The more complex the medication regimen is, the greater the risk of side effects and noncompliance. In this article, we examine how home health care offers a viable solution for helping to reduce polypharmacy and support medication management. 

Understanding Home Health and Medication Management

For eligible patients, home health care brings experienced medical care to the comfort of patients’ homes, supporting recovery from illness, injury or chronic health conditions.  

How Home Health Supports Medication Management

Unlike during a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay, home health represents an opportunity for clinicians to directly interact with patients and their medications in the environment where they spend much of their time.  

Home health helps manage medications in the following ways: 

• Medication reconciliation— comparing a patient’s prescribed medications to what they are actually taking, including over-the-counter medicines and supplements 

• Support with organization— instructing the patient in how to set up a pill box, medication chart or other reminder tools 

• Patient education— helping patients understand why they take each medication, how to take it properly and what side effects to watch for 

• Identifying barriers— Addressing issues like poor vision, arthritis, limited mobility or lack of transportation that affect safe medication use. Sometimes these barriers are difficult to see from outside the home. 

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The Importance of Medication Management in Elderly Patients

The population of older adults is growing rapidly in the United States, and 77% of them have two or more chronic health conditions. ² Having multiple health conditions often means taking multiple medications, which is the definition of polypharmacy. Because polypharmacy is so common, especially in elderly patients, managing medications carefully is even more critical. Without it, patients face serious risks. Studies show that polypharmacy is linked to: 

• Over 50% of patients taking multiple medications are missing doses or not taking medications as prescribed ³ 

• Higher risk of adverse drug events (ADEs) ⁴ 

• Four times greater likelihood of hospitalizations ⁵ 

• Increased healthcare costs ⁶ 

The reasons for these outcomes are complex. Polypharmacy introduces increased incidence of drug-drug interactions, drug-disease interactions and non-adherence in the form of incorrect dosing or missed dosages, especially in response to side effects. Multiple providers may be responsible for different prescriptions, increasing the risk of contraindications. All of these factors can lead to hospitalizations and ADEs. 

Reducing the Risks of Polypharmacy

Home health clinicians play a key role in reducing polypharmacy risks and improving medication safety through targeted interventions, including: 

• Identifying inappropriate medications, including duplicate prescriptions, expired or discontinued drugs and potential drug-drug interactions 

• Monitoring new medications for side effects or interactions, intervening early to prevent ADEs or non-adherence 

• Coordinating between healthcare providers to reconcile medication lists and discontinue unnecessary or contraindicated prescriptions 

• Educating patients and caregivers about proper dosing, side effects, and safe medication routes to improve adherence after home health discharge 

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The Proven Benefits of Home Health Medication Management

While home health care is a beneficial choice to aid in patients’ recovery and overall health outcomes, it is also proven to be beneficial in improving medication management for patients. With personalized medication administration and the ability to visualize barriers to medication adherence in real-time, home health interventions result in: 

• Increased patient satisfaction and medication adherence ⁷ 

• Enhanced quality of life and reduced hospitalizations ⁸ 

• Improved medication storage strategies ⁹ 

• Better health outcomes 

At Amedisys, we take a proactive approach to medication management in the home. Through comprehensive medication reviews, patient education, and integrated Empowerment Programs like our Diabetes Empowerment Program, we can help patients take control of their health and reduce the risks of polypharmacy. 

Fill out a referral form today to see how Amedisys can support better medication management and health outcomes at home. 

TeRonna Hall, BSN, RN, CCP, serves as a Clinical Content Development Specialist at Amedisys. With 36 years of healthcare experience, including 34 years in home health, she is dedicated to educating others on health-related topics.