“Medical providers must be aware that when they ask older adults to take a new medication or suggest they see another doctor that this is happening in a broader context of treatment,” said study author Jennifer L. Wolff, PhD. “High quality care is not only about a single disease or visit, but rather the overall treatment plan across multiple providers. If we look at each visit in a vacuum, the health of these older adults could really suffer.”
For the study, the researchers analyzed the results of the 2012 National Health and Aging Trends Study. They found that despite feeling burdened, the vast majority of older adults want to play an active role in the decision-making process surrounding their care either with their physicians (85 percent), or their family or close friends (96 percent).
For more findings from the study, click here.
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