How many prescriptions or over-the-counter medicines does your elder parent or grandparent take daily? One? Two? Over five?
You may be surprised to find that research published at Aging Care online shows that “the average older adult takes four or more prescription drugs each day, but a whopping 39 percent of seniors take five or more prescriptions each day.”
Each prescription may manage a different medical condition, need to be taken under certain conditions (such as with food or on an empty stomach), and have a myriad of side effects to be on the lookout for. Additionally, polypharmacy (taking multiple medications to manage various health conditions) presents a unique set of drug interaction dangers that can pose health threats to seniors and aging adults.
This is a lot to manage, especially if you are a senior, trying to manage multiple health conditions.
Here are a few tips on how to manage medicines so that fewer mistakes are made.
Get Organized
With many seniors needing to take multiple prescriptions at different times of the day, under different conditions, it can get confusing. As a loved one of a senior, most doctors suggest getting organized with a chart of what each medicine is, when it needs to be taken, how it should be taken, and whether it has any side effects. Keeping a chart handy with this information can be a useful tool should several family members or a Senior Helper need to monitor medication management.
Getting organized also means sorting the medication into groups. There are specially-made pill boxes that allow for organizing multiple medications for consumption in the morning, midday, or evening. Some even have an area to write notes such as “to be taken with food or water.”
Set Alarms & Reminders
We are all guilty of forgetting sometimes, so get into the practice of setting a series of reminders or alarms that will remind your senior or a caregiver about the times each medication needs to be taken.
Some families rely on technology for these alarms such as using smartphones, AI, like Alexa, or alarm clocks for reminders. Oxford Healthcare suggests “if you need more help remembering to take your meds, consider using an alarmed medication reminder, which can remind you to take your pills.”
Enlist the Assistance of a Senior Helper
Our team of Senior Helpers can help your loved one keep track and take medications at certain times of day, monitor side effects, and make sure they are stored and maintained in the right conditions.
Communicate With Healthcare Professionals Regularly
One way to ensure that medications are doing what they are intended to do is to follow the instructions of your healthcare professional and continue to attend regular checkups.
Your doctor may be able to lower the number of medications needed daily or choose a substitute to make medication management easier for you and your family.
Use One Pharmacy
By using only one pharmacy, there is a greater chance that a negative medicine interaction will be spotted before it is taken. Using multiple pharmacies leaves room for errors and miscommunication about the types of medications being taken.
Senior Helpers are happy to assist with your senior’s medication management. Talk to our team about how we can help with your daily pill reminders and medication management.