Most nurses can attest to the frustration felt when going through a medication reconciliation with an elderly patient. Oftentimes the elderly patient will come to the ER with a pill box and no idea of what medications it contains. They may simply be able to recognize certain pills based on color and size. They may even know how many times daily they take the pills.
Here are three tips for helping your senior loved one stay on top of their daily prescription:
Be Actively Involved: Whether it’s a family member or a home health aide,it’s important to have someone around regularly to ensure your elderly loved is taking their medications as prescribed. Examine the the pillboxes daily to see if some doses have been missed.
Education is Key: Although it can be tedious, allow the elderly person to go through the pillbox filling process with you. Having them do it themselves can be very enlightening. You can determine if they understand the schedule and if they are aware of what pills they are taking and for what reasons.
Simplify the Prescription Filling Routine:
. Try to have medications filled at only one pharmacy if possible. Then, assign one person to be in charge of reconciling what medications are filled on a monthly basis with the medication list.This way, medications that are no longer being prescribed can be eliminated from the list.
Remembering medication is a key part of enjoying your later years. And the best way to do that is to make it an integrated part of your lifestyle.
Love Thy Neighbor Home Care Services is a comprehensive home care agency licensed by the Georgia Department of Community Health that provides direction as to how to manage the total care of your loved one. Call us now at 470-672-6884 and speak with us about how we can meet your needs.
Check out our Services:
Home Care Services
Mobile Lab Services
Like and Follow us on Facebook and Instagram:
Facebook – Love Thy Neighbor Home Care Services
Instagram – Love Thy Neighbor Home Care Services
We provide home care service around Gwinnett County and Metro Atlanta.
Location for Senior care service in Snellville, Lawrenceville, Grayson, Stone Mountain, Monroe, Loganville, Allendale, Centerville, Windsor, Bold Springs, Ridgewood, Rockbridge, Rosebud, Smoke Rise, CLarkston, Decatur and more
Leave a Reply