COLUMBUS – Through a partnership between The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) and the College of Pharmacy, educators are delivering programming to communities across the state to provide resources and tools to prevent medication misuse among older adults.
Older adults are among the most frequent users of prescription medications, putting them at higher risk for improper use, whether from incorrect dosage, unsafe storage or unintentional sharing. With these challenges in mind, the program Generation Rx Older Adult Toolkit (GROAT) was designed to educated participants about safe medication practices.
Established in 2007, the program teaches safe medication-taking practices. Partering with the OSU Extension expanded the program’s reach by enabling educators to deliver curriculum through presentations, hands-on activities and community resources, such as medication record forms.
“In Wood County, one of our key activities was a medication safety trivia game, which made learning fun and interactive for older adults,” said Susan Zies, an OSU Extension educator. “Programs like these not only educate, but also foster a sense of connection and community.”
In 2022, OSU extension educators conducted 56 sessions across 12 counties, reaching over 843 participants.
Additionally, data collected before and after programs found improvements. Before the program, 11% of participants stored medications in locked locations. Afterward, 87% intended to do so within 30 days.
Fewer than half of participants (48.5%) initially reported asking their pharmacist about potential drug interactions when using over-the-counter products. After the program, that number increased to 92%.
Further, survey results revealed 84.9% of attendees intended to share what they learned from the sessions afterward with family, friends or other community members.
(Information provided by The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
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