Updating Interventions to Enhance Medication Adherence among Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Chronic Diseases

Medication adherence poses a significant challenge for older adults with chronic diseases. However, the evidence regarding the effectiveness of medication adherence interventions remains inconsistent. This review examined interventions designed to help this population adhere to their prescribed medications. PubMed, ProQuest, Ovid, Wiley Online Library, and the Cochrane databases were searched to identify full-text articles in English published between 2012 and 2022. Fifteen studies were included in the final analysis, encompassing a total of 7,093 older adults, of whom 3,793 were assigned to intervention groups and 3,300 to control groups. Various interventions were implemented, including health education, counseling, medication reminders, and assistive devices. Nurses or multidisciplinary teams administered most interventions. All studies demonstrated an improvement in medication adherence following the interventions. Notably, combining multiple interventions-particularly education and counseling with reminders and devices-proved to be more effective than a single intervention alone. Findings also suggest that strategies to improve adherence at home should emphasize practical aspects, including simplified medication regimens, the use of reminders or digital health tools, caregiver education, and regular follow-up from healthcare providers. Tailoring interventions to the realities of the home environment is crucial for enhancing treatment adherence and achieving better health outcomes for older adult patients with chronic diseases.