Oral Liquid Medicine for Older Patients
Medicine for Older Patients
Resources and information about dysphagia for older patients.
Dysphagia is a common symptom that affects 50% of older patients[1]. It’s a key concern in patients who have underlying health conditions such as dementia, intellectual disabilities, cancer or who have had a stroke. Therefore, understanding options for how older patients with swallowing difficulties can take their medication is important.
Firstly, we’ll talk about some of the common healthcare considerations for older patients.
Healthcare for Older Patients
The modern advancements and technological innovation over the last few decades mean that people across the globe are living for longer. However, an increased life span can cause health problems, with there being many common conditions affecting older patients.
Interesting statistics to note [2]
All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift.
The pace of population ageing is much faster than in the past.
In 2020, the number of people aged 60 years and older outnumbered children younger than 5 years.
Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world’s population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%
Dysphagia can be treated in a number of ways, with the Quality Care Commission (CQC) recommending that treatment can include:
- Exercises to help improve the efficiency of the swallow
- Strategies that can be followed when eating and drinking to improve safety and/or comfort [4]
- Additionally, advice can be given by healthcare professionals to patients about posture, food, the environment and other factors that could help with dysphagia.
Oral Liquid Medicines for Older Patients
When older people have swallowing difficulties, they may struggle to take their medication in tablets or capsules. This can lead to tablet or capsule manipulation or crushing, which in some cases can impact on the safety or efficacy of the medicine.
Our oral liquid medicines cover a range of different therapeutic areas and can be safer for older patients to swallow. All our products are extremely palatable, with options to control the correct dosage.
It’s important to always follow the advice given by clinicians or healthcare professionals for patients with dysphagia.
- Clavé P, Shaker R. Dysphagia: current reality and scope of the problem. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2015 May;12(5):259-70. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25850008/ . Accessed Aug 2023.
- World Health Organisation, Ageing and Health. Available at: Ageing and health (who.int) Accessed: August 2023.
- Mayo Clinic, Dysphagia, Symptoms and Causes. Available at: Dysphagia – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic. Accessed August 2023 . Accessed Aug 2023.
- Care Quality Commission, Dysphagia and Thickeners. Available at: Dysphagia and thickeners – Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk) last Accessed August 2023.