Poor eyesight may contribute to poor understanding. Reinforcement of the instructions on the label may not be possible. This may be related to a loss of mental ability or memory. Cognitive skills are often reduced in the elderly. The elderly often are less dextrous, eg arthritis sufferers.
Patients often tolerate unpleasant side effects if they have been explained.
Many conditions of the elderly are not responsive to drug therapy. Prescribers should always ask themselves if treatment has any benefit over non-treatment. It has been shown by many research workers that on hospitalisation, stopping many of the previously prescribed drugs resulted in patient improvement. This does not imply that drugs should be withheld because of old age as many drugs do improve the quality of life of the elderly. Often drugs with a narrow therapeutic index can be unsuitable for an elderly patient.