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Simplifying Medication Management for Seniors

Seniors may find it difficult to manage their prescriptions, particularly if they have several. Simplifying this procedure can enhance their well-being and standard of living. With home care assistance providers and the support of loved ones, seniors can incorporate the following tips and make medication management easier.

Establish a Schedule for Medication

Seniors may find it easier to remember to take their medications on time if they have a regular, clear routine to follow. thier home care assistance aides can help them follow that routineThis routine needs to consider any interactions or side effects that may occur, as well as if seniors need to eat or drink with the medications. When writing the routine down, it’s important to include the following information:

Medication Names: With home care assistance, seniors can list all of the medications they take.
Dosages: Seniors can find the dosage information on the prescription bottle.
Timing: If this isn’t indicated on the bottle, seniors should take the information above into consideration. For instance, if medication makes them sleepy, they might want to take it at night.
Specific Instructions: As mentioned above, seniors should consider interactions, if the medicine should be taken with food, and any other important instructions.

It might be a good idea to laminate this list or put in it a protective sleeve, especially as seniors get used to the routine. Also, it should be updated as medications or interactions change.

Make Use of Medication Management Tools

There are a variety of tools on the market that make medication management easier, and many are made with seniors in mind. Some of the tools include the following:

Pill Organizers: These can be pre-filled with home care assistance, and they are available in daily or weekly configurations, whichever works best for seniors.
Medication Alarms: Seniors can be reminded to take their medications on time by using apps or alarms.
Blister Packs from Pharmacy: Some pharmacies sell blister packs that arrange prescription medications according to the day and time of day.

Collaboration with Medical Team

Loved ones and seniors should talk with the medical team about ways to make the medication schedule easier. For instance, are there two medications that could be combined into one, or is there a different dosage that would decrease the number of times the medication is taken? Also, it might be worth talking with the medical team to assess if certain medications are truly needed.

Frequent Reviews of Medication

Speaking of assessing if medications are still needed, this should be done regularly, not just when creating the medication routine. With home care assistance and support from loved ones, seniors can track interactions and how they feel over time, sharing that information with their physicians to assess if changes need to be made.

Home Care Assistance Town of Tioga FL – Simplifying Medication Management for Seniors

Get Educated

It’s important for seniors to feel empowered and take an active role in their medication routine. With home care assistance, they can develop questions they have about medications and their medical conditions. Additionally, loved ones can help them find resources about those topics to gain a better understanding.

Establishing a clear schedule, utilizing useful tools, enlisting home care and loved ones, as well as routinely discussing prescriptions with medical professionals, can all help with senior medication management. Seniors can improve their quality of life and overall health by incorporating some of the tips above to better manage their routine.

Sources: https://www.nursenextdoor.com/blog/4-tips-for-organizing-medication/
https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/5-tips-for-managing-medications-for-aging-parents-during-a-pandemic