Home Care Essentials: Proper Medication Management
Medication management is one of the most important issues when caring for a senior. Whether you’re a family caregiver or working with a home health care agency, you should know about the prescriptions a senior is taking.
As we age, the number of medications we take, and our body’s sensitivity to them, tends to increase. Unmonitored interaction between medications can be dangerous.
We compiled common signs to watch for and rules to follow when practicing proper medication management.
Signs of Poorly Managed Medications
- Random medicines and pills throughout the house
- Outdated medication containers
- Going through prescriptions too quickly
- Abnormal confusion/disorientation
Healthy Medication Management Habits
- Eat proper meals, drink enough water and limit alcohol consumption.
- Stay organized. Use pillboxes and keep a comprehensive list of medications.
- Physician involvement. Tell your doctor about all medications that you are taking, including those prescribed by others and over-the-counter supplements. Ask for a review of them.
- Be aware. Take medications on time, watch for side effects, and ask questions. The FDA provides a great list of questions to make sure you cover all bases.
If you or a loved one is having trouble maintaining healthy medication habits, please contact us. SHC offers many ways to ensure medication safety, which in turn, can reduce hospitalization.
Issues may be resolved simply by having a caregiver to provide on-time medication reminders and monitor for side effects as they carry out their tasks.
An SHC registered nurse can assist in duties such as medication set-ups or acting as an advocate during doctor’s appointments or hospital stays. Whatever your need, we’re here to help.
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