Question

An 80 year old woman comes to the community health care facility with a large bag of medications. she tells the nurse she can no longer afford these medications because her only income is social security. which statement is the nest response by the nurse?

a. Lets go through these medications and see which ones we can delete.
b. You can get these medicines at this clinic for free.
c. Lets see if we can get some help from Medicare to help you pay for these medications.
d. These medications are important. Do your best to pay for them

Answer 1

The ideal response by a nurse is to assist the elderly patient in finding financial assistance through Medicare's prescription drug benefit programs. These programs are designed to ease the burden of medication costs for seniors living on a fixed income. Healthcare professionals play a vital role in connecting patients to these resources to ensure access to necessary medications.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate response to an 80-year-old woman who can no longer afford her medications on a Social Security income would be to explore available assistance programs. A nurse should acknowledge the importance of the medications while also recognizing the patient's financial constraints. The nurse's best response would be: "Let's see if we can get some help from Medicare to help you pay for these medications." This approach is considerate of the elderly patient's situation and opens the door to possible financial assistance through Medicare's prescription drug benefit programs.

Medicare has changed to alleviate the financial burden on the elderly and disabled by introducing the Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003. This act includes assistance programs projected to save recipients around 15% to 25% on prescription drugs annually. By using a prescription drug discount card, seniors like the woman in question can potentially reduce their medication costs significantly.

As the aging population grows, the financial strain on federal programs like Social Security and Medicare increases. With escalating medical costs and the number of elderly Americans on the rise, the issue of how to cover these expenses becomes even more critical. The Medicare prescription drug benefit, despite criticisms of high costs and impact on drug prices, was passed due to the advocacy efforts of organizations such as the American Association for Retired People (AARP), underscoring the political influence of senior citizens in addressing healthcare needs.

Helping patients navigate these resources is an essential role for healthcare professionals in ensuring that elderly individuals have access to necessary medications without facing insurmountable financial hardship. Transitioning from short-term solutions to established assistance programs is the preferred practice to maintain long-term medication adherence and better health outcomes.