It’s no secret that our bodies go through various changes as we age. These changes don’t only alter our general lifestyle, they affect how our bodies work. Most crucially, how they absorb and react to the medications we take. Managing your senior loved one’s prescriptions, as well as monitoring how their bodies are responding to them, is a key element of senior care. Especially if your loved ones are likely to be on many medications at a time, or are going through sudden bodily changes.
At the same time, it may also be useful to maintain a record of your loved one’s health as well. Specifically changes in their general behavior, weight, hunger, sleep habits, or mood. This may provide health experts more insight into how the medications are impacting your loved one, and how to maintain their senior care.
Keep In Touch With Doctors- Share your record with your loved one’s doctors so they can analyze it. They’ll be the ones to know whether the dose should be altered, as well as the ones to spot any harmful medication interactions.
Use One Pharmacy- Whenever feasible, it is ideal to use a single pharmacy when receiving prescriptions. That way the pharmacist can better monitor the prescriptions your loved ones are taking and be the second line of defense to spot unfavorable drug interactions.
Use Medication Management Aids- There are several techniques elders and families can do to ensure their loved ones are taking their prescriptions, and taking them appropriately. One easy and frequent method for people take is to invest in a pillbox or a pill dispenser. Both may be created for the simplest or most sophisticated drug management requirements. Another way would be to set up an alarm clock, or plan a phone conversation with your senior to gently remind them.
Assign A Leader- The function of this leader is to be the single point of contact to assist your loved one in navigating the healthcare system and any associated senior care. They will be responsible for organizing and attending essential medical visits, keeping prescription or other health-related records, and monitoring their loved one’s health alongside their medical professionals.
Looking for additional medication management suggestions or a helping hand? BrightStar Care of Venice, FL can be your guide. Contact us online or give us a call at (941) 412-4070.
Tips For Staying On Top
Keep A Record- Having a readily available list of all the prescriptions your loved ones are taking, or have taken, is the first step to good medication management. This record should include:- 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, it may also be useful to maintain a record of your loved one’s health as well. Specifically changes in their general behavior, weight, hunger, sleep habits, or mood. This may provide health experts more insight into how the medications are impacting your loved one, and how to maintain their senior care.
Keep In Touch With Doctors- Share your record with your loved one’s doctors so they can analyze it. They’ll be the ones to know whether the dose should be altered, as well as the ones to spot any harmful medication interactions.
Use One Pharmacy- Whenever feasible, it is ideal to use a single pharmacy when receiving prescriptions. That way the pharmacist can better monitor the prescriptions your loved ones are taking and be the second line of defense to spot unfavorable drug interactions.
Use Medication Management Aids- There are several techniques elders and families can do to ensure their loved ones are taking their prescriptions, and taking them appropriately. One easy and frequent method for people take is to invest in a pillbox or a pill dispenser. Both may be created for the simplest or most sophisticated drug management requirements. Another way would be to set up an alarm clock, or plan a phone conversation with your senior to gently remind them.
Assign A Leader- The function of this leader is to be the single point of contact to assist your loved one in navigating the healthcare system and any associated senior care. They will be responsible for organizing and attending essential medical visits, keeping prescription or other health-related records, and monitoring their loved one’s health alongside their medical professionals.
Looking for additional medication management suggestions or a helping hand? BrightStar Care of Venice, FL can be your guide. Contact us online or give us a call at (941) 412-4070.