Medication Management for Seniors
By Ewa Frydel, Owner
It is important for seniors to take proper dosage and keep records of their medications. However, not all seniors are capable of handling this responsibility on their own.
That’s when a family caregiver or a hired in-home caregiver can help.
If you find yourself in charge of your aging parent’s medications, or if you are interested in learning more about medication management, keep reading.
With age comes the possibility of more medications than previous youthful years. That is because we are more prone to various health conditions and our immune system may be compromised.
Medication prescriptions are not always the same type or dosage year after year, or even month after month. This change in medications and health conditions are especially challenging if your senior has cognitive or memory issues.
Let’s first look into why medication management is important.
First on the list is that there are adverse reactions if your senior loved one takes too much or too little of their medication.
This includes drug interactions, side effects and hospitalization.
Make sure you are aware of the side effects of every medication your senior is prescribed. Also, know how much they are to take.
Record keeping comes in handy here, especially if the dosage shifts from time to time.
Next, prescriptions can get pricey. If your senior is taking too much, their next prescription may not be allowed to fill in time and they risk going a while without it. Even if their prescription is allowed to be filled, this cost can add up.
Save money and time by taking the exact amount prescribed and when.
Lastly, it’s important to take medications at the same time with the same dosage. This helps the body respond to the medication best. If to be taken with food, make sure it’s with the same meal around the same time.
The best health effects occur when your elderly patient is regularly taking their medications on a routine schedule.
Tips to Manage Medication for Seniors
Keep a list with a classic pen and pad.
Make sure you are always up-to-date with each doctor’s visit and list out the side effects, dosage, and time of day the medications are to be taken. Create a checklist for yourself and make a user-friendly list for your mom or dad, too. Laminate it and keep it on the fridge so they can check off medications taken. Having cheat sheets available takes the guessing work out.
Pill organizers are very helpful.
They have the days of the week listed on the cap and can be filled ahead of time. Sit with your senior loved one every Sunday and fill the pill box together. If they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you may need to do this daily, but the constant reminder will be beneficial for their short-term memory.
Know who you’re buying from.
Pharmaceutical companies must be trusted and unfortunately, not all are honest. Make sure you are familiar with your pharmacies and where medications are sourced. Speak to your local pharmacists and doctors for reassurance. Try to refrain from ordering medications online where you do not speak to legitimately trained professionals.
Lastly, store medications properly by following the instructions on the label.
Most medications can be stored in a cool, dry place. If you have an elderly patient with cognitive or memory issues, you may need to keep medications away from areas where children and pets can access. If certain medications need to be refrigerated, consider a separate mini-fridge to prevent accidental usage in cooking. Once you select a spot, keep that permanently. Moving medications around the house too often can cause confusion in your senior loved one. Routine is the safest bet.
It goes hand-in-hand to have proper medication management when caretaking for a senior. In fact, it is a mandatory obligation for all medications to be monitored with extreme detail.
Aging comes with many prescriptions and health concerns. Staying on top of it all will greatly reduce risk of sickness, overdose, under-dosing and even death.
For more information on managing medications with seniors, please contact your loved one’s healthcare professionals. You can also contact us.
We’re here to help!
Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about managing medications for the elderly and should not be construed as medical advice.
