Medication errors at an old people`s home fell dramatically when a pharmacist was given full responsibility for medicine management as part of a study.

Mistakes dropped by 91% over the course of four months during the trial when a pharmacist was put in charge. Elderly people living in homes such as the one used in the study are more vulnerable to medication errors than those in hospitals and other settings.

Nurses, doctors and other care home staff are among the employees who can look after medicines and oversee their distribution to patients. Errors could be reduced by improving training and communication between staff, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and the head of the nursing home, the study carried out in a 69-bed care home found.

Pharmacy records were placed under continuous review and weekly visits were carried out at the care home. The results showed putting a pharmacist in charge led to far fewer errors in areas such as medication type, dosage and records not being kept up-to-date. The total number of errors in these areas fell from 138 to 12.

The study comes after research last November showed people living in care homes are being put at risk because of sub-standard systems for handing out medicine. University of London blamed inadequate information, over-worked staff, poor teamwork and often complex courses of medication.

Copyright ⌐ Press Association 2010

Research has suggested that older people`s fear of falling over can actually make future falls more likely.

While the majority of elderly people have an accurate picture of their risk of falling, around a third either underestimate or overestimate the risks, according to researchers from Belgium and Australia.

The scientists looked at data for 500 men and women aged between 70 and 90 for the study, published online in the British Medical Journal.

In the last year, a total of 149 (30%) had fallen once or more. That figures rose to 214 (43%) in the following 12 months, the study found.

The study found that among those who were fearful of falling over, almost 40% had several falls over the following year or were injured in the falls - despite there being a low physiological risk.

Meanwhile, around one in three people with little fear of falling actually fell over despite having a higher physiological risk of doing so.

The researchers believe a positive attitude among these "stoics", combined with regular exercise that increases strength, could work in their favour.

The authors said: "Excessive fear of falling can lead to needless restriction in participation in physical and social activities, resulting in physical deconditioning, poor quality of life, social isolation, depression, and psychological distress."

They said strategies aimed at reducing fear of falling - such as cognitive behavioural therapy - should be implemented for those who are anxious.

Copyright ⌐ Press Association 2010

The number of elderly people falling over can be reduced if simple techniques for increasing strength and balance skills are learned, according to scientists.

A quarter of people aged 70 and over suffer falls every year and around half of them are aged over 80, 50% of whom would have another fall the next year.

The University of Nottingham scientists looked at 204 over-60s who lived either at home or in residential care. Every one of them had experienced a fall and had called an ambulance, although none of them were taken to hospital. Each one of them were deemed to be at high risk of falling again.

Two groups were then created. One group was given advice from fall experts and participants were shown how to build strength and balance by a physiotherapist. Potential hazards in their home were assessed and were adapted as necessary. The other group was given no help.

The results showed a 55% drop in the rate of falls with those who had received support, compared with the group which had no help.

The research findings were published online in the British Medical Journal.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

Researchers have found that 70% of elderly people living in care homes have been affected by errors in their medication.

Common errors include improper labelling of medicines, the wrong doses being prescribed and not enough information being given about how the medicines should be taken.

Researchers from universities in Leeds, London and Surrey surveyed 256 residents from 55 care homes across the country. They found that 178 of them had encountered at least one error with their medication.

The drugs most likely to go unchecked for possible side effects were diuretics, the heart drugs ACE inhibitors and amiodarone, and levothyroxine which is used to treat underactive thyroid.

The mistakes have been blamed on the long hours of staff, an absence of training and poor teamwork.

The study said: "People in care homes are a frail and vulnerable population at particular risk from medication errors, and it is a cause for concern that two-thirds of care home residents in this study were exposed to one or more errors," they concluded. The will to improve exists, but there is a lack of overall responsibility. Action is required from all concerned."

Copyright ⌐ Press Association 2009

(Help the Aged)