Self Medication as a Form of Self Control in an Intermediate Care Facility: Preliminary Data

This paper describes a project in which residents of an ICF were assessed on their ability to self-medicate. The goal of the project was to establish a sense of self control over some of their daily needs and thereby enhance well-being for those judged appropriate to administer their own medications. Sixty-four individuals (26% of the 249 residents) passed the three stage multidisciplinary screening process. At the end of the three month period, forty of the fifty-nine residents who chose to participate in the project were able to self-medicate, whereas nineteen were found to be non-compliant. Results to date indicate that a variety of issues need to be addressed before the true impact of such a. project can be evaluated.