It’s important that seniors are taking their medications at the right dosages and at the right time. However, when more medications need to be prescribed, it can be more difficult to remember every medication’s instructions, creating the potential for medication errors. However, there are options to make medication distribution easier for your loved one.
Having a professional caregiver can help make the complexities of medication distribution a lot simpler. At Rita’s Home Care, our caregivers are able to do just that, ensuring that your loved one is safe while taking their medications.
Let’s take a look at how a caregiver’s methods can ensure medications are taken properly and avoid any health risks.
Caregivers Act as a Second Memory
Memory decline with age can make remembering to take the medication at the right time and dosage a bit tricky. It is especially difficult when several medications are prescribed at once. Taking these medications improperly can potentially lead to health complications or worsen existing problems. Having an at-home caregiver can help a patient remember when they should be taking their medications.
They can make sure that each medication is taken at the right time and at the right dosage. This prevents your loved one from forgetting the dosage of medication or forgetting to take the medication altogether. It also prevents any potential health risk that comes with not taking the medication.
Caregivers Help Create Medication Schedules
In order to keep track of multiple medications, creating a medication schedule can help make the process a lot simpler. Caregivers create a medication schedule to ensure that each of the medication's instructions is followed. Having this type of schedule can help seniors create a routine to follow.
Caregivers Can Monitor Drug Reactions
If a senior is managing their medication on their own, they might not recognize that they are having a reaction to their medication, especially if they live alone. Having a caregiver distribute medications allows someone to quickly recognize if the patient is having an allergic reaction or if the medication is reacting to another prescription.
The caregiver can then suggest that the doctor needs to alter the prescription in some way or stop the medication altogether. If there is an emergency, the caregiver can help the patient seek medical attention right away.
Caregivers Reduce Anxiety and Stress
Having to take multiple medications can create stress and anxiety for both the patient and their families. Patients may feel that it is difficult to remember all their medication instructions. Families might be concerned about their loved one taking the medication properly.
Having a caregiver at home to administer medications can help reduce stress for both the patient and their family. The patient has someone who can help make their medication list less daunting and help administer it to them. Families can have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is being cared for and that they are taking their medication safely.
Caregivers Can Help Increase the Quality of Life
Whether a patient forgets to take their medication or believes they don’t need it, the absence of that medication can negatively affect the patient’s health, potentially leading to serious complications. Having a caregiver distribute the patient’s medication can improve their quality of life because they can help the patient understand why they are taking the medication in the first place.
By having someone administer their prescriptions, it ensures that the patient is receiving the medication as it should be taken. When medication is taken properly, it can help the patient’s condition improve, which can improve their overall health.
Schedule an Appointment With Rita's Home Care
If you are considering the possibility of having a caregiver assist your loved one with their medication distribution, schedule an appointment with Rita’s Home Care to see if it is the right fit for you and your family.
