Medication Safety Tips For Seniors And Their Caregivers

 While people over the age of 65 represent 14% of the US population, they consume more than one-third of the total number of prescription medications. Safely sticking to a medication schedule can sometimes be difficult for seniors, which is evident from the number of times people over 65 and older visit emergency departments, which is 450,000 times per year for adverse drug events, for reasons ranging from memory loss to small print on prescription labels. Many seniors take multiple types of medicine each day, so keeping track of them, especially when cognitive impairment is present, becomes even more challenging.

In the times we are in, seniors may be limiting contact with a senior home care Charlotte, NC professional or a loved one who has assisted with their medication management.Well-informed patients and families are key to getting the healthcare work done better. Here are some suggestions for caregivers and seniors that may help to ensure safe and effective use of medications:

Confusion with times- Some prescription medications are time-sensitive, meaning if you miss a dose or if several doses are taken too closely, it can be detrimental to health. If coronavirus concerns keep you or another caregiver from helping in person, it is best to resort to an electronic option like a device that can help older adults safely adhere to a medication schedule, for example, MedMinder.

Swallowing difficulties- Chronic health conditions often make it difficult to swallow, while some seniors may reduce their dosage or mash them into food out of fear of choking, which may reduce the effectiveness of the medications (especially those with a time-release component). It is best to consult with your loved one’s doctor in this regard, who may come out with an alternative for your loved one to take the medicine.

Reading tiny print- Reading fine print becomes more difficult for everyone as we age, which can be attributed to seniors often having some type of vision loss. This makes it more likely to make a medication error. You can overcome this challenge by calling up the pharmacy and asking them to use labels with a larger font.

Other common medication challenges:

1.   Drug reactions

2.   Multiple prescribers and pharmacies

3.   Food and drug interactions

4.   Borrowing someone else’s medications

5.   Storing medication improperly (understand the storage instructions and follow them)

6.   OTC medication (make sure the pharmacist and the senior’s physician are aware of all medications being taken by the senior)

7.   Herbal remedies and OTC medications(learn about the risk associated with taking any herbal supplements in conjunction with medications)

8.   Alcohol (be aware of instructions about avoiding particular foods and/or alcohol)

It is important to not discontinue medications on your own without consulting a physician, as stopping the medicine abruptly can have severe consequences, particularly when they have been used daily over a long period of time.

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