A medication planner is a handy tool to help patients take their medicines at the right time and in the right amount. — TNS
Some older people struggle with remembering to take their medications or organising them effectively.
Adult children, like yourself, can help by taking steps to monitor and update medication lists.
Doing this can help prevent potential health complications, while also providing peace of mind for both you and your mum.
The most common medication-related problems in older adults include:
- Taking too high or too low of a dose
- Taking unnecessary medications
- Not taking medication as directed or not at all
- Taking an ineffective medication, or
- Adverse drug reactions such as confusion, bleeding and oversedation.
In addition, certain medications require special monitoring.
Medications used to control pain, anxiety, mood and sleep pose the largest risk for patients as they age.
Medications for blood pressure and diabetes also can be problematic if they are not monitored closely and adjusted as health conditions change.
Every person’s medication needs are different.
The risk for medication-related problems increases with each medication that is added.
If your mum takes four or more medications, she has a higher risk for medication-related problems, especially falls.
Here are six tips for helping your mum with her medications:
Get your mother’s up-to-date medication lists from her healthcare team.
Make sure that this list matches the prescription containers in her home.
Then talk through each medication so both of you fully understand what it is taken for, how often and at what dose.
Many pharmacies offer individual dose, or compliance packaging, options.
This is a low-cost way to help patients better manage daily medications and it offers a way for family members to doublecheck on doses that may have been missed.
If your pharmacy doesn’t offer this service, use a medication planner.
This is a plastic organiser that stores scheduled doses of medications and makes it easier to keep track of which medication to take and when.
Medication synchronisation allows patients to fill most medications at one time every 30 or 90 days, instead of refill cycles scattered throughout the month.
This may help simplify and organise medications.
If something goes wrong and your mum needs extra help, having digital access to her medical records can help you get in touch with her primary care clinician or pharmacist to assist.
Go through your mum’s medication lists with the pharmacist when you refill the prescriptions, to ensure that all the medications are being prescribed correctly and that none interact adversely with one another.
Also, discuss with a pharmacist when considering taking vitamins and supplements.
Even though these products can be purchased over the counter without a prescription, there are still important interaction concerns with some medications.
Talk with a healthcare professional or pharmacist before adding vitamins, herbal remedies or supplements to your mum’s medication regimen.
As a caregiver, it’s important that you take time for self-care and recharging so that you can continue to give.
Pay attention to how you feel emotionally and physically.
If you need a break or would like assistance, ask family members or other loved ones for help.
There are many caregiving resources in the community that can help your mum with needed services or additional support.
The best measure of caregiver success is if you did your best with what you had available at that moment.
Remember, you don’t have to do it alone. – By Catherine Lea/Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service
Catherine Lea is a pharmacist in Wisconsin, United States.
