Therefore, it is extremely important that older adults be instructed on proper eyedrop administration technique. There are several devices available to help older adults with memory loss to remember to take their medications. However, these devices almost always need to be used in conjunction with a caregiver. The public health nurse and pharmacist should be involved in monitoring the drug therapy of patients with severe cognitive impairments. D. Functional Impairments and the Use of Medications Functional impairments can have significant impact on the success of a pharmacotherapeutic regimen.
Poor vision can make it difficult to read prescription labels.
Obviously, a person with a hearing impairment will have difficulty following verbal instructions. Therefore, before giving verbal instructions, an individual's ability to hear should be grossly assessed. E. Improving Drug Therapy in the Chronic Care Setting Chronic care demands different competencies and skills than does acute care. Drug therapy, however, is not without risk. Consider non-drug alternatives.