A nurse is preparing to teach a forgetful older adult patient about a multiple drug regimen to follow after discharge from the hospital. To help promote adherence, what will the nurse do?

A. Ask the patient to share the teaching with a neighbor or friend soon after discharge: While social support can reinforce learning, relying on a neighbor or friend may not guarantee medication adherence. This does not directly address the patient’s forgetfulness or simplify the regimen. B. Give the patient detailed written information about each drug: Providing written information is helpful, but detailed instructions may overwhelm a forgetful older adult. Without strategies to simplify administration, written material alone is unlikely to ensure adherence. C. Cluster medication administration times as much as possible: Simplifying the regimen by reducing the number of administration times makes it easier for a forgetful patient to follow. Fewer scheduled doses support adherence and reduce the risk of missed medications. D. Make sure the patient understands the actions and side effects of each drug: Understanding medications is important, but a forgetful patient may struggle with recall. While teaching remains necessary, simplifying the schedule is more effective in promoting adherence.