Medication Management Capacity Among Older Residents of Low-Income Apartment Buildings

MMC is an essential component of safe and independent living. This cross-sectional study was designed to assess MMC among low-income older persons residing in HUD-subsidized housing, located at one of five apartment buildings in urban Richmond, VA. Medication Management Instrument for Deficiencies in the Elderly (MedMaIDE) was used to measure MMC during individual, face-to-face interviews. Of the 107 participants, 89% were African-American with an average age of 68.5 years (±7.2), an average of 4.9 (±2.9) comorbidities and using approximately 8 (±4.1) medications on a regular basis. The mean deficit in MMC was 3 (±2.0). The most difficult skill was naming all of the medications (69.2%) followed by stating the indication (46.7%) and knowing how or when all of the medications should be taken or identifying existing refills (38.3%). Many older residents of low-income housing experience challenges in managing medications.