Managing your Loved One’s Medications
Caregiving encompasses many aspects – often including medication management for your loved one. Here are some key actions to help you navigate and manage medication needs.
To get an overview of what is involved, make sure you have the most recent and updated medication list from the primary care physician and any specialists involved in the care. Using this list, here are some guidelines:
Medication Administration:
It's important to know what each medicine is for and about any possible side effects.
Ensure you know the correct dosage for each medication and any special instructions; such as taking with a meal, or avoiding certain foods.
If your loved one has vision or hearing loss, or loss of hand function, you'll be their ears and eyes, and responsible to be sure they take the right dose of the right medication at the right time.
Don’t run out of medication - track how many refills are left for each. This should be on the medicine bottle label. Make sure you know when you need to see the provider next for a refill.
Plan ahead. Call in to the pharmacy for refills up to a week before they are due to run out.
Ask your provider and insurance company if any medications are eligible for a 90 or 100 day supply.
Keep all medicines together in one place.
Use meal times and bedtimes as reminders to take medications, if appropriate.
Use a watch alarm or notification on your mobile device for administration times.
Read the instruction sheets properly before giving any medications, especially medications that come in alternate forms, such as eye-drops, inhaled medicines, or injections.
Be sure to dispose of left over medications properly.
Check to make sure the medicine is covered by your loved one's health insurance. If not, discuss other options with the provider.
Medication Interactions:
Many seniors take multiple medications. This can lead to drug interactions. Some interactions can cause serious side-effects. Here are some different interactions that can occur:
Drug-drug interactions – Older adults are more likely to have more harmful reactions between medications. For example, some can cause sleepiness or increase the risk of falls.
Others may interfere with the medication’s efficacy.
Drug-alcohol interactions - Mixing alcohol and medications may cause memory loss, lack of coordination and irritability. It can also increase the risk of falls.
Drug-food interactions - Certain foods can impact the medications’ function. For example, you should avoid taking some blood thinners with foods high in vitamin K, such as kale.
Over the Counter medications, vitamins, supplements, nutrition aids and herbal medications can all potentially interact with prescription medications; be sure your provider is aware of all of these.
Get to know your dispensing pharmacist. They can help you keep track of the various medicines and answer questions about potential side effects and interactions.
Pharmacy Tips:
Not only can your pharmacist help with potential problems, they can also help with ensuring the medications are as easy to take as possible.
Ask for large print on the prescription packaging. This will make it easier for your loved one to see.
If there are medications that need be split in two to achieve the correct dosage, the pharmacist can help you split tablets into the correct dosage.
If the prescribed medications are difficult to swallow, ask the pharmacist for alternatives. They may be available in a liquid, suppository, or a skin patch.
General Tips:
Bring a list of all prescribed and over the counter medications, including vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies, to each provider appointment. If possible, bring the pill bottles with you to show the provider.
Be sure to match the written prescription with the medication dispensed from a pharmacy.
Maintain a list of any allergies - to medications, foods and other substances (latex for example), and keep with your list of medications.
Check the "expiration" or "use by" date of all medicines.
Keep all the medicines in original bottles. Use weekly pill organizers to keep track of what needs to be taken each day.
With the advent of new technology, there are now options to assist with medication administration in different ways. Electronic reminders and timers, as well as administration systems that can be filled every few weeks and set to auto-dispense at the proper time. If your loved one does not take the medication, these systems will automatically call out to you to let you know. We can help with information regarding these systems.
Medication compliance is one of the most important ways to maintain health and avoid hospitalizations.
