The days of “take two aspirin and call me in the morning” have transformed into “take two of these … and two of these … and perhaps one of those, too!” Nearly forty percent of seniors are taking at least five different prescription medications each day – not to mention over-the-counter meds (OTC), vitamins, and supplements. It is easy to see why overmedication and adverse medication reactions are so common in seniors.
Take these steps to prevent medication problems, including overmedication, for a senior you love:
- Make a list, and check it twice. Create a list of all of the medications – both over-the-counter and prescription – that the senior loved one is currently taking. Share the list with all of the senior’s healthcare providers, and provide updated lists whenever there is a change in medications. Then every six months, review the list with their primary care physician to make sure that all of the medications are essential and that current doses are optimal.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Make certain you completely understand what each medication is actually for, and make sure there are no contraindications with other medications the individual is taking. The doctor or pharmacist can run the older adult’s meds through a drug interaction database to verify. If you’re unclear about anything else pertaining to the medications prescribed, speak up. You will want to make sure you understand:
- Whether a generic version is available
- Exactly when as well as how the meds should be taken (i.e., with a full glass of water, on a full stomach, if they can be crushed or broken in half, etc.)
- How to proceed if a dose is missed
- What the potential side effects may be
- And any other questions you may have
- Set up a system. As soon as you’ve confirmed that all the senior’s medications are essential and you have the information you need to ensure they are taken correctly, create a system for following doctors’ orders. Depending on the senior’s cognitive functioning, this may be as simple as a pill box that is filled weekly. Or you may choose to count on the services of a home care provider, like Independence-4-Seniors Home Care, for medication reminders.
It’s also important to remember that a doctor should always be consulted before starting or changing any medications, including vitamins or over-the-counter meds. Some prescription medications belong to the same drug category as OTC meds, which could result in an excessive amount of a medication being administered. In other cases, vitamins or OTC medications interact negatively with prescriptions.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care is always here to help older adults remain healthy and safe. Contact us for additional details on our in-home care services and how they can benefit a senior loved one in your life. We would be happy to schedule a free in-home assessment and to answer questions about our professional home care in Riverside, IL and the surrounding areas.