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Effective medication management requires a few contributing factors. Aging adults will likely need more guidance or assistance with taking their medications properly. It is essential that family, friends, or assisted living facilities in Glendale help them with their medications. This ensures that they will not experience missed doses, which could cause complications with their condition.
The preliminary steps to careful management of medication are simple but important. Caregivers should familiarize themselves with the senior’s medical records. It is important to also understand what the side effects of the medications are and how they interact with other prescribed or OTC medications. It is easy and very common for seniors to forget to take their medication. There are several tools or steps that can help alleviate the possibility or frequency of this taking place.
Here are a few tips to help manage your senior loved one’s medication properly.
- Maintain a current medication list
Maintain a written and digital copy of an up-to-date medication list. This helps to quickly reference the list at appointments or in case of emergencies. During doctor’s appointments, the list can be quickly retrieved to ask the doctor any questions that may have surfaced between appointments. Make sure the list includes vital supplements, prescribed medications and over the counter meds. Keep the list in a convenient location and with the Glendale assisted living care providers.
- Limit the number of healthcare specialists and pharmacists
Make sure that your aging loved one is not seeing too many doctors. A primary care physician and one specialty doctor per diagnosed condition should be the rule. Try to use one pharmacy to fill medical prescriptions. These things help narrow the possibility of conditions being overlooked and improper medications being prescribed. Pharmacists are usually hands-on and will catch any discrepancies in their medications. They can also identify if a medication is prescribed that would counteract with existing medications.
- Use medical alert devices
Devices that transmit medical alerts are ideal for reminding seniors to take their medications. These devices can alert seniors to take their medication or to keep a doctor’s appointment. There are phone apps and other technology that works to serve the same purpose. If none of these are an option, set alerts on a phone or use a standard clock alarm.
- Utilize a pill box
Pill boxes are available in a variety of sizes and used by people of all ages. They are helpful with reminding seniors in assisted living Glendale facilities to take their medication. They can be placed in an area that is easy to view or with prepared meals to remind aging adults to take their meds during breakfast, lunch, and dinner time.
- Create a habit of taking medication
Aging adults appreciate consistency. It makes the days easier for them to remember certain things. Encourage your senior loved one to take their meds around the same time they do other things. Perhaps taking their morning meds before or after breakfast or a morning walk would help them to remember. If meds are taken at late evening or night, consider taking them after their evening snack or brushing their teeth for the night.
Broadview Residential Care Center provides effective medication management for their residents. Contact us at (818) 246-4951 to learn about how we can help your aging loved one today.