How the Lifestyle Leaders View and Manage Medications

Medication management is an ongoing consideration for adults ages 85 and older, their caregivers, and healthcare providers. When asked about their attitudes and behaviors regarding medication management, over 73% of the Lifestyle Leaders reported taking 3+ prescription medications daily and managing their own medication regimes. 61.9% of participants had taken over-the-counter, non-prescription medication for pain over the past five years. When asked why some participants didn’t currently take prescription medications to manage pain, the most frequently-reported responses were: “I don’t feel that my pain warrants a prescription medication,” (19%, n=8), “I don’t want to deal with the side effects,” and “I don’t trust drug companies,” (9.5%, n=4, respectively). The Lifestyle Leaders reported they would be most likely to go to the internet (over their local pharmacist) to ask for advice about their medication(s). Meanwhile, 39% of Lifestyle Leaders would trust a robot to manage their medication(s) for them.