title: Helping family members manage medication administration hassles.
abstract: Managing the medication regimens of dependent older adults in the home is a complex issue for family caregivers. The tasks involved can include helping the older adults manage their own medications or may require involvement in the purchasing, scheduling, and administering of multiple medications for serious conditions. The hassles associated with this responsibility are now known to be associated with increased caregiver strain. In this article, we provide an overview of the body of research on medication administration hassles and offer a tool to assess family caregivers who are involved in this important aspect of care.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing and Health Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22032, USA. stravis1@gmu.edu
authors.forename: Shirley S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Travis
authors.forename: Hsueh-Fen S
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: Gayle J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Acton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000451:nursing*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008508:Medication Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D010348:Patient Care Team