Managing medications can be an overwhelming task for anyone, let alone seniors, who often must manage several prescriptions at different times during the day or with certain restrictions. Mistakes, such as taking too much of one medication, or forgetting to take another, happen frequently, and can lead to hospitalization (and often do). Better medication management can lead to better management of symptoms and better health.
Independence-4-Seniors Home Care, which assists seniors with aging in place in Hinsdale and the greater Chicago area, offers services that help seniors take their medication as prescribed. If you think your loved one may need help managing medications, a caregiver can be a lifesaver. For example, an Independence-4-Seniors caregiver can:
- Coordinate and communicate among healthcare professionals—including keeping all involved updated on all the meds the senior is taking.
- Teach the importance of taking meds and provide reminders to take them.
- Coordinate delivery of meds through mail order and/or provide transportation to pick up meds.
- Pick up prescribed medications after a hospital stay.
- Check for contraindications prior to purchasing new medications for the client.
- Record information from the label of each prescription and track warnings and possible side effects.
- Encourage the use of a pill organizer and/or an automated medication reminder system.
- Provide a system for checking that medications were taken.
Caregivers can also accompany seniors to their doctor appointments and provide a list of all medications being taken, as well as communicate with the pharmacist if the senior has any special requirements, such as liquid medicine as opposed to hard-to-swallow pills.
At Independence-4-Seniors Home Care, we provide the necessary assistance to help our home care clients manage their medications for improved health and quality of life. We want to help our clients avoid the medication mistakes that land them in the hospital or emergency room. We provide medication management and other home care services for seniors in the Chicago suburbs, including DuPage, Cook, Kane, and Will Counties. Contact us today (630) 323-3665 or via email at info@independence4seniors.com to find out what services could benefit you or your loved one. You can also follow us on Facebook.