Home Care Guide - 5 Steps To Safe Medication Management

Home care service providers and family caregivers offer countless hours of assistance for aging seniors. One of the most important responsibilities home care service providers or family caregivers have is helping older adults manage their medication regime.

Thanks to continued research and innovative medicines, many people are able to manage medical conditions that were once considered deadly. However, whether your loved ones are taking a couple aspirin once a day or an assortment of coordinated prescriptions, it is critical they manage their medications safely and responsibly.

Here are a few tips to help families assist loved ones in managing their medications:

1. Always fill a prescription immediately after it is prescribed and maintain refills on schedule. Failing to take or continue a medication can have serious consequences. Many elderly care providers offer senior services that include managing prescription pick-ups and refills.
2.Organize dosage amounts for each medication. Taking too much or too little of a prescription medication can have negative consequences, so it is often easier for seniors if each dose is measured out in advance using an inexpensive daily or weekly pill box.
3.Schedule dosing times throughout the day. Many medications require patients to take them at specific times or intervals throughout the day. Family caregivers and home care or elderly care providers can offer helpful reminders to seniors throughout the day. For times that there is no home care service provider or family member present, an alarm or reminder note left where it is easily seen may help.
4.Always ensure medications are clearly labeled. Ask the pharmacist for labels with enlarged text if necessary. If this is not an option, consider labeling bottles with colored stickers. If more than one person is taking medications in the household, keep each person's prescriptions in separate locations to avoid mix ups.
5.Clean out the medicine cabinet often. Check bottles for expiration dates and dispose of any expired medications. This is also a good time to check refill and renewal dates.

Elderly Care Senior Services - Medication Management
If your loved ones take over-the-counter or prescription medications, speak with them to determine if they need assistance with any aspects of their medication regime. Home care providers like ComForcare Home Care offer senior services to elderly care clients that include assistance with medication management. A specific medication profile is created for each client so home care providers help them stay compliant with their physician's orders.