40% percent of people with chronic conditions do not take their treatments correctly — a figure that rises above 60% among older adults, particularly in cases of polypharmacy. In some conditions, such as osteoporosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and glaucoma, treatment adherence falls below 40%.
As well as affecting patients’ health, this problem costs the National Health Service around two billion euros every year, due to avoidable hospital admissions, complications, extra tests and more complex treatments — alongside a decline in quality of life and increased demands on families.
To address this issue, the project Eldercare – Enabling medication adherence in the elderly, coordinated by Professor Elisabetta Poluzzi from the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, has identified possible strategies to improve treatment adherence among older adults. The research, carried out in collaboration with the University of Milan, the University of Naples Federico II and the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS in Milan, and funded by the Ministry of University and Research through Next Generation EU resources, led to the development of 18 operational recommendations.
Four strategic areas underpin the recommendations:
organisation of care, with stronger coordination among healthcare professionals and clear identification of roles and points of contact for patients;
use of technology, including digital tools and telemedicine integrated into care pathways without replacing the doctor–patient relationship;
training for healthcare professionals, with particular attention to communication skills, use of digital tools and collaboration among different professionals;
education for patients and caregivers, through clear information and materials tailored to the needs of older populations.
The next step will be to launch pilot projects in different care settings to test the effectiveness of the recommendations in practice. Eldercare is now entering the dissemination phase. As Professor Elisabetta Poluzzi explains, “the work will continue through collaboration with organisations willing to pilot the recommendations, the involvement of scientific societies, associations and professional bodies, and ongoing dialogue with the international scientific and healthcare community.”
