Gordon: Adjusting to multiple medicines – Adapting to loss of freedom, independence and capacity
Listen to patients and health professionals speak about their experience with taking multiple medicines.
Gordon
Male
Age at interview: 73
Number of medicines: 13
Cultural background: Anglo-Australian
Gordon is hoping to reduce his medicines at some point, so that he can do things around the house like he used to do.
Gordon:
It's changed the fact that I can't do things like I used to. I can't garden like I used to. I can't … well, I don't have a car at present. I have a licence. I'm quite capable and licensed. There's nothing wrong with my eyes or anything like that. The doctor just renewed my pink slip for my licence. But I do … the things that I can't do are … I like doing things with my hands, you know, even things like hanging a door or something like that. No more. I find I can't do it.
Jacqueline:
That's because of your medicines in some way, or …?
Gordon:
I suppose I've really got to put it down to the medicines, yeah. Because I'm taking these medicines to counteract a situation aren't I? I'm hopeful that … let's put a time figure on it. Hopeful that on about six months, from this date, that I can cut it down to perhaps a blood pressure tablet, one diabetes or needle, and my Panadol, and perhaps a puffer.
The Living with multiple medicines project was developed in collaboration with Healthtalk Australia.