For some seniors, taking regular prescription medications is just part of their daily living activities. There are many reasons why taking medications might be a part of your aging loved one’s routine, and helping him to stay on track with his medications is important to ensure he can continue to enjoy the quality of life that he is used to.
Common Medication Errors
While everyone can make an occasional mistake while taking a prescribed medication, for seniors, it can become more and more difficult for them to stay on top of medications as they get older. It can often be attributed to the amount of medications, combined with some cognitive decline, that increases their risk of forgetfulness.
Because of those reasons, the elderly are more likely to commit the following medication errors:
- Overdosing or underdosing – either taking too many or too few of the prescribed medications. It could also include mixing up medications that look alike and taking the wrong pills at the wrong time.
- Forgetting a medication – Forgetting to take one or some of his prescribed medications.
- Not understanding side effects – For some medications, there are multiple possible side effects, making it difficult to remember them all. And while your loved one might notice if he feels ill after taking a medication, a side effect such as being more sensitive to the sun or an increased risk of dehydration may not be realized until after he’s already in a dire situation.
- Not staying on top of refills – It can be a lot to manage when each medication needs a refill, and what steps need to be taken to get the refill (can he just call the pharmacy, or does his doctor need to approve the refill). This can lead to him running out of needed medication and scrambling for a refill.
Five Tips to Help Your Loved One Manage His Medication
- Purchase a simple pill dispenser. It seems kind of basic, but filling a pill dispenser each Sunday for the week ahead can help your loved one visually see if he’s taken what he needs to each day.
- Use technology for reminders. Set up reminders on his phone or his calendar to alert him each day when he should take his medication.
- Create a routine around taking medications. Once it’s built into a routine, it’ll be harder for him to forget.
- Keep a list of medications and their refill dates with a family member. That way, the family member can help him get his refills on time.
- Talk to your loved one’s pharmacist about dosing and what works best with your loved one. They might have some creative solutions to help him manage his medications better.
Senior Home Care Can Help with Medication Management
If you don’t live near your loved one and he’s still struggling to manage his medications, even when using some of the tips listed above, you might want to talk to a senior home care provider to see about having someone come to his home and help him manage his medications. While a senior home care provider cannot assist him in taking his medications, they can help him fill up his weekly pill dispenser, check for any refills that may be needed, and make sure your loved one disposes of any medications he no longer needs. Having an extra set of eyes from a senior home care provider can help reduce the risk of any medication mistakes that might otherwise happen.
If you or an aging loved one are considering senior home care in Spartanburg, SC, contact Heart of the Carolinas Home Care at (864) 990-4345.
Heart of the Carolinas Provides Senior Home Care Services in Greenville, Mauldin, Greer, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, Columbia, Simpsonville, South Carolina, and surrounding areas.
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