Senior Medication Management Made Easy!
There are an astounding 10,000+ prescription drugs available in America, and nearly a third of adults take at least five of these drugs per day. If you happen to be a care provider for an aging loved one, the complexity of dealing with the prescriptions, interactions and doses can be challenging. In fact, research has revealed that 55% of prescription meds are not being taken accurately for a wide variety of reasons, and the outcomes can be severe.
Keep dangerous senior medication mistakes to a minimum and receive the ideal benefits of the medication by following these tips to help manage medications effectively.
Be in the Know Right from the Beginning. Don’t be afraid of asking the medical practitioner and/or pharmacist questions about the drug. Be sure to know these particulars:
- The name of the prescription
- What the drug is prescribed for
- How, when and for how long to take the drug
- Correct dose
- Conceivable side effects and drug interactions
Furthermore, make sure to have your loved one’s doctor frequently perform a medication review to determine which medications are still necessary and which ones could be eliminated.
Keep a Master List of Medications. Creating a comprehensive list of all prescription medications, OTC drugs, and supplements that your senior loved one takes can be a significant help at the doctor’s office. This listing should consist of all of the data from the list above, along with:
- The shape and color of the drug (or a photo of the drug if possible)
- The prescribing doctor’s name and contact information
- Date the medication was started, and whether or not it should be refilled and taken repeatedly
- Date the list was last changed
The California senior care experts at Hired Hands Homecare can help with senior medication management by setting up medication reminders, picking up refills, communicating with physicians and pharmacists to assure medications are being taken correctly, and more. Contact Hired Hands Homecare today at (866) 940-4343 to learn more about proper medication management.
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