Medication Management: Tips for Seniors

Medication ManagementTry these 5 tips...

A majority of older Americans manage at least one chronic condition. The risk for developing a chronic disease, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, increases the older you get. Because of this, many seniors find themselves juggling a variety of medications to keep their bodies functioning properly. Medication management is one of the biggest obstacles to aging-in-place, which is when a person chooses to live out their lives in their own home instead of a monitored care facility or senior community. Follow the tips below for medication management.

 

1. Medication Management: Automate refills and utilize medication delivery

 

People who utilize both pharmacy delivery and refill reminders had fewer drug-related hospitalizations than people who did not, according to The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Automating these services helps relieve the pressure of remembering to go to the pharmacy when your medications run low. Especially for those patients on multiple medications to manage, this can save both time and stress.

 

2. Medication Management: Prepare medications ahead of time

 

People have long used day-of-the-week pillboxes as a helpful tool to organize medications. So, if you are taking the time to prepare one week of medications, think about preparing a month or more while everything is already out. Organizing medications ahead of time makes the daily task of taking medications far more manageable. Preparing medicines ahead of time also helps reduce the chance for errors, which might occur for people who have vision or grip problems, and which can make opening pill bottles difficult.

 

3. Medication Management: Set daily reminders

 

Folks who live alone have been found to be more prone to make errors with their medications, according to the NCBI. It is thought that it may be because there is no one to assist or monitor the person’s medications, which can become increasingly complicated the more they have to take. To help there are now services to remind people to take their daily medications. Iamfine, a daily check-in service, but now also provides medication reminders through a regularly automated phone call.

 

4. Medication Management: Read labels carefully

 

All medications are different. So, some you need to take with food, others on an empty stomach, some you need to take once a day, and some three times a day. Reading medication labels closely and carefully can help reduce any medication errors. But, If you have any questions about medication management, it is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

 

5. Medication Management: Maintain an up-to-date medication list

 

Because a complete list of all medications and supplements will come in handy when preparing your prescriptions ahead of time. It is helpful to have both a printed and digital version of this list. Not only is having a list helpful for caregivers and emergency personnel, but it is also a useful thing to carry with you to doctor’s appointments. The list makes any information that you, your caretaker, or your doctor needs easily accessible.

Medication management can be complicated, especially for older adults with memory or cognitive issues. Following the above tips can help ease the stress of medication management and make the process both more straightforward and less time-consuming.

 

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Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay 

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