What is a significant risk factor for medication overdose among older adults?

The significant risk factor for medication overdose among older adults is multiple medications. This is a common scenario known as polypharmacy, where individuals are prescribed two or more medications concurrently. Older adults are often prescribed multiple medications due to chronic health conditions and age-related changes in metabolism and drug sensitivity.

The complexity of managing several medications increases the likelihood of errors, such as forgetting doses, misunderstanding dosing instructions, or experiencing drug interactions. These factors can lead to unintentional overdosing, particularly when medications are not regularly reviewed for necessity or effectiveness.

In contrast, high physical activity levels generally contribute positively to health and are not associated with an increased risk of medication overdose. Low healthcare access may lead to delays in receiving care or obtaining prescriptions, but it does not inherently increase the risk of overdose when medications are taken. Minimal healthcare education could impact understanding and adherence but does not directly correlate to the specific danger posed by the sheer number of medications being taken. Therefore, the accumulation of multiple medications poses the most significant risk for overdose in this population.