Taking five or more daily prescription drugs is common among older adults managing multiple chronic conditions (such as hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease). However, as the number of medications grows, the risk to seniors of serious medical, cognitive, and logistical complications increases significantly.
A serious risk for seniors is called medication nonadherence, simply, not taking prescribed medications correctly. This can mean missing or skipping doses, taking the wrong amount, taking doses at the wrong times, stopping a medication without a doctor’s guidance, and failing to fill or refill a prescription at the pharmacy.
To help minimize those risks, the University of Minnesota Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation, along with Omcare, a digital health company based in the Twin Cities, is looking for 20 seniors living in Silver Bay to participate in a six-month pilot study, part of the Rural Health Innovation Initiative, which attempts to address remote pharmacy access that will help keep seniors thriving at home.
Silver Bay was selected as a pilot site because of the recent closure of the Essentia Clinic and its population of folks over 65. According to Tahira Darling, a community liaison for the study, “The study will feature the use of a hub that dispenses medication and uses technology akin to FaceTime to keep people in contact with healthcare providers, caregivers, and family.”
The hub, about the size of a small desktop computer, combines medication management, pharmacy home delivery, 24/7 pharmacy support, automated medication scheduling and dispensing, and monthly nurse check-ins to give study participants consistent, reliable access to pharmacy and care services.
Participants will switch from individual pill bottles to pre-sorted, time-stamped pouch rolls that the hub will dispense to reduce administration errors and track adherence automatically.
Omcare’s information sheet states, “In this study, participants will use the Ōmcare Home Health Hub for medication scheduling and dispensing, pharmacy check-ins, and other care support right from their home for six months.”
To participate in the study, you must be 65 or older, take five or more daily prescribed medications, be insured by Medicare (not Humana or CVS Caremark), and live in Silver Bay or a surrounding community.
Participants will agree to a six-month commitment to make use of the technology and provide regular feedback. There is no cost to participate.
To learn more about participating in the study, visit omcare.com/ruralhealth-innovation-study, call 612- 626-4816, or email HealthStudy@umn.edu.
