Better Medication Safety for Older Australians

New Partnership Promises Better Medication Safety for Older Australians and those with complex health conditions

For Australia’s army of carers looking after loved ones, managing multiple medications safely is often a daily challenge. A new partnership between two leading healthcare organisations aims to make this task easier and safer.

MedicAlert Foundation Australia and HMR Referrals have joined forces to address a critical gap in medication safety for Australians living in the community. This collaboration comes at a crucial time, with recent data showing that only 6.5% of elderly Australians living at home receive medication reviews, compared to 65% of those in aged care facilities.

For carers, the statistics are concerning: one in two Australians aged 65 and over take five or more medications daily, with an 88% chance of experiencing adverse drug reactions. Even more worrying is that over 500,000 at-risk elderly Australians haven’t received the medication reviews they need in the past year.

“This partnership creates a more comprehensive safety net for our members,” explains Chris Radbone, CEO of MedicAlert Foundation Australia. For carers, this means access to both MedicAlert’s emergency identification services and HMR Referrals’ specialised medication management expertise.

What This Means for Carers
The partnership offers several practical benefits for those caring for loved ones:

1. Easier Access to Home Medication Reviews (HMRs): Carers can now access HMR services through MedicAlert membership, helping ensure their loved ones’ medication regimens are safe and appropriate.
2. Enhanced Emergency Response: HMR Referrals clients will have access to MedicAlert’s 24/7 emergency response service and medical identification products, providing extra peace of mind for carers.
3. Better Coordination of Care: The partnership aims to bridge the gap between emergency identification and day-to-day medication management, creating a more integrated approach to healthcare safety.

Mark Simari, CEO of HMR Referrals, emphasises the partnership’s focus on preventing medication-related harm: “By raising awareness of the benefits of Home Medication Reviews, we hope to enhance health outcomes for all Australians.”

Taking Action

If you’re caring for a loved one who takes multiple medications, consider these steps:

• Contact HMR Referrals to learn more about their enhanced services
• Ask about Home Medication Reviews for your loved one
• Consider MedicAlert’s identification products, including their new QR ID system, which allows first responders to instantly access crucial medical information

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in supporting Australia’s carers and their loved ones, particularly in addressing the critical need for medication safety in the community setting.

For more information about these services, carers can contact their healthcare provider or reach out directly to MedicAlert Foundation Australia or HMR Referrals.