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Managing medicines becomes more crucial when your parents are on more than five medications. This situation is referred to as polypharmacy. It increases the risk of drug complications, negative interactions, and confusion about when to take certain medications, and what dose.
With such a high volume and frequency of drug intake, medication management becomes an issue. A US study found that 55% of seniors fail to take medication according to their physician’s instructions, while around 200,000 seniors are hospitalized annually due to adverse drug reactions.
6 Tips to Manage Your Parent Medications:
Follow these steps to simplify medication management and keep your loved one’s health a top priority.
1. Go with Them to Doctor’s Appointments:
The first step in managing medications is to attend doctor appointments with your parent. This helps you clearly understand the dosage, timing, and whether to take each medicine before or after meals.
Gather Other Helpful Information:
When you visit their doctor, collect information about side effects, which medications can be skipped, what each medicine treats, and what foods to avoid with certain drugs. You must be aware of negative interactions as they can lead to falls and increase the risk of injuries.
2. Keep All Medicine in One Location:
If all the medicines are not stored together, it will confuse, and make it easy to mix or mess up while taking doses.
Medicines taken once a day should be stored where a senior is likely to sit. Medicines are taken multiple times a day should be kept at a central location. Good places to store medicine can include bedside tables, kitchen or dining tables, and bathroom medicine cabinets. Bins can be used to separate over-the-counter medicine from prescribed medication. Discard unused or expired medications since they pose a significant risk to those with dementia or cognitive impairment.
Medication Reminder and Tracking Tools:
Sorting the medications in the order they need to be taken can make things much easier. Blister packs can be especially helpful, as they have small compartments for each pill and indicate whether the medication should be taken in the morning, at noon, in the evening, or at bedtime. You can also use a pill box organizer, a medication dispenser, or an app to stay organized.
Many senior care companies, such as ConsidraCare have built medicine management and tracking into their caregiver assistance apps which can help the caregiver remember and keep track of medication for the seniors under their care.
3. Be Aware of Unsafe Medications:
Certain medications can become more dangerous as your loved ones age or experience health-related changes. The Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults helps healthcare providers safely prescribe certain drugs for individuals 65 and older.
This comprehensive list can be challenging to memorize, but for a rough idea, it includes:
- Painkillers & sedatives
- Sleep-inducing medications
- Muscle relaxers
- Antibiotics
- Hormone medications
- Cold & allergy medications
Keep this list on your mobile device and discuss any concerns or questions with the doctor.
4. Be on The Lookout for Self-Prescribing Possibilities:
Self-prescribing is when your parent decides to increase or decrease the dose or frequency of their medications on their own. Medications are most effective when taken consistently as prescribed. Emphasize that taking more doses won’t speed up recovery. If no relief is evident, consult their doctor instead of making changes independently.
5. Don’t Miss Refills:
You need to keep an eye on your parent’s medications to make sure that the refills are obtained on time. Luckily, almost all major pharmacies in Canada have refill reminders and auto-refill services available to make sure that patients are never at risk of running out of critical medicine. Some can even deliver refills at home before a medicine runs out.
6. Maintain a Medication List:
You must maintain a complete list of all the medications, whether prescribed or over-the-counter, and supplements. Health practitioners need this information before prescribing new medicine or changing the current doses.
If a single pharmacy delivers your loved one medicines, it is possible that the pharmacy’s online platform already has a list of all the prescribed medicines. However, it will still be missing any over-the-counter medications or supplements. That is why you need to keep your medicine list up-to-date.
7. Sort Medicine Every Week:
Sorting medicine before the beginning of the week can ensure proper management. If any pills need to be cut, they should be cut with a proper pill cutter at the beginning of the week and stored in an organizer to make it convenient for the senior to take them and avoid overdoses. Many pharmacies, such as Shoppers Drug Mart can presort the pills into blister packs making it very convenient for seniors to take them.
How We Can Help Your Parents in Medication Management?
We understand that juggling multiple responsibilities—work, kids, and caring for your parent can be a lot. Managing medication is one other thing you have to worry about as your parents age.
Let our caregivers take care of that. They can remind your parents to take their medications consistently, assist with cooking nutritious meals, provide personal care, and offer companionship throughout the day.
The More Organized You Are, The Easier it Becomes:
Becoming more organized allows you to manage your parent’s medication effectively. Try adopting these techniques, and you’ll see the difference. If you struggle with making medication a routine, take advantage of their existing schedule. For example, if your parent eats breakfast at 9:00 am, remind them to take their pill afterward, but remember—it’s your responsibility to supervise them.
If your parent doesn’t have a routine and you want to create one, read on: Practical Tips for Creating a Daily Routine that Benefits Your Aging Parents
FAQ’s
1. How will you advise about safe medication for an elderly person?
The key to safe medication management for seniors is making sure they clearly understand their medications. Encourage them to carefully follow the doctor’s instructions and keep an updated list that includes all medications, even over-the-counter ones and supplements. Regular check-ins with their doctor are essential to discuss side effects or any needed changes. It’s also important to explain the risks of skipping doses or mixing medications with certain foods or drinks.
2. How do you store high-risk medications?
Storing high-risk medications properly is crucial. They should be kept in a locked cabinet or a secure area that only trusted individuals can access. Keep them in their original containers with clear labels to avoid any confusion. For some medications, it’s essential to follow specific storage instructions, like refrigeration, to maintain their effectiveness.
3. What should be discussed in a medication review?
During a medication review, talk to the doctor about why each medication is prescribed and whether the current dose is still the best fit. It’s important to ask about potential side effects and what warning signs to watch for. It’s also a good idea to ask if there are simpler medication options that can reduce the number of pills or doses your loved one needs to take.
4. Why are older adults at high risk for medication-related problems?
As people age, their bodies go through changes that affect how medications are processed. For example, the liver and kidneys may not work as efficiently, which can cause medications to stay in the body longer and increase the risk of side effects. On top of that, seniors often face challenges like memory issues or vision problems, which can make it harder to manage multiple medications without mistakes.
