Senior Care Tips To Help Loved One’s Manage Their Medications

It's no secret that as we age, our bodies undergo a variety of changes. These changes influence not just our general way of life, but also how our bodies function. The most important aspect is how they absorb and respond to the medications we consume. Managing your senior loved one's medicines and monitoring how their bodies react to them is an important aspect of senior care. Especially if your loved ones are taking many prescriptions at the same time or are experiencing abrupt physiological changes.

Suggestions for Staying Ahead

Maintain a Record- The first step to excellent medication management is to keep a record of all the medicines your loved ones are taking or have taken. This record should contain the following:

• The medicine’s brand and chemical name
• What the medication looks like
• The date they started taking the medication
• The expiration date of the medication
• What the medicine is for
• The strength of the medication (typically milligrams)
• The dosage to be taken and when
• How the dosage should be taken (IE: with food, before bed)
• Possible side effects of the medication
• Storage instructions
• Whether or not refills are needed
• The doctor that prescribed the medication
• The pharmacy where the prescription is filled

At the same time, keeping a record of your loved one's health may be beneficial. Changes in their general behavior, weight, appetite, sleep patterns, or mood, in particular. This may offer health professionals additional information about how the medications are affecting your loved one and how to manage their senior care.

Maintain Contact With Physicians- Share your records with your loved one's doctors so they can study them. They will be the ones to determine if the dosage should be adjusted, as well as any potentially hazardous pharmaceutical interactions.

Use A Single Pharmacy- When getting medications, it is best to utilize a single pharmacy if possible. As a result, the pharmacist will be able to better monitor the medications your loved ones are taking and will be the second line of defense in detecting negative drug interactions.

Make Use of Medication Management Aids- There are various strategies that seniors and families may use to ensure that their loved ones are taking their medicines correctly. Investing in a pillbox or a pill dispenser is a simple and common strategy that individuals use. Both may be designed to meet the most basic or complex medication management needs. Another option is to set an alarm clock or schedule a phone call with your elder to gently remind them.

Assign A Leader- The purpose of this leader is to serve as a single point of contact for your loved one to help them in navigating the healthcare system and any accompanying senior care. They will be in charge of planning and attending necessary medical appointments, maintaining prescription or other health-related records, and monitoring their loved one's health in collaboration with medical specialists.

Looking for further medication management advice or a helping hand? BrightStar Care of Saint Lucie & Indian River Counties can assist you. Contact us online or by phone at (772) 400-9229.