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Medication Reconciliation and Education for Older Adults
Nina M. Flanagan, Judith L. Beizer. Home Healthcare Now, 2016-11-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Multimorbidity results in use of multiple medications. In older adults, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is not significantly affected. There may be delays in achieving peak drug levels, but there is no clinically significant decrease in total absorption. Most significantly, renal function is generally decreased in older adults. Antipsychotics are to be avoided as first-line treatment for behavior disturbances associated with dementia because of conflicting evidence on their effectiveness and potential of adverse effects. It is not until medication problems occur that they realize the ramifications associated with not seeking clarification (Manias et al., 2014). New to the 2015 AGS Beers Criteria are drug–drug interactions (excluding anti-infective) that are highly associated with harmful outcomes in older adults (Hines & Murphy, 2011). The Significant Role of the Pharmacist In all care settings, pharmacists have an important role in educating other healthcare professionals about the Beers Criteria and how to use them in clinical practice.
Key findings
- Multimorbidity results in use of multiple medications.
- In older adults, absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is not significantly affected.
- There may be delays in achieving peak drug levels, but there is no clinically significant decrease in total absorption.
- Most significantly, renal function is generally decreased in older adults.
- Antipsychotics are to be avoided as first-line treatment for behavior disturbances associated with dementia because of conflicting evidence on their effectiveness and potential of adverse effects.
Why it matters
This article reviews medication reconciliation and education for older adults, noting that antipsychotics should be avoided as first-line treatment for behavior disturbances in dementia. It does not address treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease itself.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 33/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Home Healthcare Now) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Home Healthcare Now: journal h-index 46 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.1 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Judith L. Beizer: h-index 8 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Binghamton University: institution h-index 419 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27805932) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Flanagan, N. M., & Beizer, J. L. (2016). Medication Reconciliation and Education for Older Adults. Home Healthcare Now. https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000000469
Vancouver
Flanagan NM, Beizer JL. Medication Reconciliation and Education for Older Adults. Home Healthcare Now. 2016. doi:10.1097/nhh.0000000000000469. PMID: 27805932.
BibTeX
@article{flanagan2016-27805932,
author = {Flanagan, Nina M. and Beizer, Judith L.},
title = {{Medication Reconciliation and Education for Older Adults}},
journal = {Home Healthcare Now},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1097/nhh.0000000000000469},
pmid = {27805932},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/nhh.0000000000000469}
}
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