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Getting older isn’t always easy. It can seem like medications continue to pile onto each other one after another. Having to take a lot of prescription medications can be overwhelming for seniors because it can be hard to remember what needs to be taken and when. However, with the right strategies, that feeling of being overwhelmed can melt away. 

If you are considering having someone assist your loved one with their medication intake or assist them with other lifestyle needs, schedule an appointment with Rita’s Home Care to see if their home care services are right for you and your loved one.

In the meantime, let’s look at the practical tips that can help seniors be healthy and confident when taking their medication.

Use Organizers and Schedules to Simplify Routines

If your family member is taking multiple medications, having a medication organizer can help make taking medication simpler. An organizer has compartments for every day of the week and within each day compartments for morning, noon, and night. Having medications organized in this way allows the person taking them and their caregivers to see if they have taken their medications already.

Having a schedule of when these medications should be taken can also be beneficial. Creating a schedule of what needs to be taken and when can help patients better remember when they should be taking their medication. It’s important that this schedule is kept in a place where it can be seen often so that it can be a continuous reminder.

Ensure Timely and Accurate Medication Intake

One of the most important factors of medication intake is taking the right dosage of medication at the right time. Make sure that your loved one talks to their pharmacist to confirm the exact time and dosage of each medication that they are taking. This way, they know for certain when they should be taking each medication.

Taking medication on time ensures that there is a consistent level of the drug in the body, which is necessary for some medications to work properly. It’s also important that the right dosage of medication is taken. Missing a dosage or taking too much could have serious health consequences.

Regularly Review Medicines with a Healthcare Provider

Having your loved one review their medications annually with a healthcare provider can be a beneficial tool. It allows them to talk with their doctor and review the medications that they are taking and why they are taking them. Oftentimes, patients are being prescribed medications from different doctors, so it is helpful to have someone who can focus on the big picture and help manage them all.

It can eliminate the potential for someone to be taking the same medication twice, simply because it has two different names. Some of these medications could potentially interact with each other. With this knowledge, their medical provider can adjust the dosage of one of the medications or could discontinue prescribing the medication altogether. It also helps to identify the potential for any side effects and how these effects can be handled.

Always Read the Label

Reading the label on the medication bottle can help the patient become aware of what foods or drinks can interact with the medication and create adverse reactions. Some foods and drinks that have been known to interfere with medication include:

  • Grapefruit can prevent some medications from being effective. 
  • Alcohol cannot be consumed when taking certain medications because it could lead to serious side effects. 
  • Herbal supplements can also interact with certain medications

Reading the label also helps the patient to know when their medication expires. It’s important to discard medication once it is past its expiration date because its effectiveness is reduced, and taking it can cause adverse effects. Having this knowledge can help prevent any of these unwanted effects.

Store Medications Properly

Proper storage of medications can help to make sure they remain effective in their purpose. Be sure to adhere to specific storage instructions: for example, some medications should be stored in a cool, dry place. Some medications need to be kept in the refrigerator, but generally, it is best to avoid extreme temperatures when storing medications.

These temperatures can cause the medication to be ineffective and could also become dangerous once ingested. Also, make sure that these medications are stored away from children. This reduces the risk of a grandchild ingesting any medications that may be in the house.

Schedule an Appointment

Looking to make your loved one’s mediation routine even simpler? At Rita’s Home Care, our caregivers create personalized care plans that are tailored to the patient. Schedule an appointment with Rita’s Home Care to find out if it is the right fit. 

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