Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by admin
Many seniors take medications every day, and this mixes all the medicines. Several studies show that almost 87% of seniors take one medicine daily, and around 36% take around five drugs each day. Thus, to treat the health conditions of older adults, it is necessary to take medications.
But, have you thought about how to manage medication for your older adults at your home? You can easily manage medications by putting up a simple medication system and taking care of the older seniors. The medication system you follow will let you avoid common mistakes such as missing the medicines, taking the wrong medication, or taking more medicine than provided.
Therefore, to help you more, here are some easy ways to help you arrange medications for older adults. These tips will help them safely manage the medications and take them on time.
Table of Contents
Use a daily pill organizer.
A daily pill organizer is very helpful if you take too many medications every day. The organizer has several compartments that hold each day’s medication daily. It is necessary to have a pill organizer to ensure that the medicines are taken on time.
You can also keep a description of each pill physically, such as if there is any blue-colored medicine, and then you can name it as a large blue capsule.
2. Use a medication application.
Everyone today has a smartphone or tablet and has a variety of applications used by them daily. So, add a medication app to your mobile phone to manage all your medications.
The medication app includes information about the drug, sets up the medication schedule, and reminders to take medicine. Medication apps include MyTherapy Pill Reminder, MedMinder, CareZone, My Medadvisor, Medisafe, and many more.
3. Gather all the medications in one place
To take the medications correctly, gather all the vitamins, supplements, medications at one location. If the medicines are kept at different locations, one can lose track of all the prescribed medications that need to be taken.
Also, it is necessary to take special care of over-the-counter medications as they cause adverse drug reactions when combined with prescribed medications. Finally, making a habit of gathering everything in one place helps you know what is being taken and what is left.
4. Make a list of all the medications.
Have a list of all the medications for older adults with their name, side effects, dosage, or when the medicine has to be stopped. Also, add any allergies that can be possible with the medications.
You can create several copies of the medications list and send them to the healthcare providers or pharmacist. Keep one copy on your mobile so other new medications can also be added, if any.
5. Set a reminder for medication
To set a reminder for proper medication, use an electronic pill reminder available in the market at various prices. Get one that suits you best and input the name of all medications, how to take them, and enter with or without food. An alarm will alert you which medication is to be taken with quantity.
Connect the pill reminder with your smartphone or tablet and make it work better to alert you about the proper medications.
6. Store the medications properly.
It is necessary to store the medications in a cool and dry place so that it is away from children or pets at your place. Do not put the medicines in several cabinets’ as the heat and moisture can affect the drugs.
And, if there is specific storage for the medications, such as refrigeration, then we recommend you to follow the instructions of the doctor or the pharmacist.
7. Know the effects of medications
It is necessary to understand the side effects of the medications and their interactions with the human body. This lets you watch the health changes that can happen after a new medication is prescribed or any dose has been increased.
And, if there is an issue, then it is good to contact the doctors on time and tell them about the side effects of the medications. Some side effects can be a pain in the stomach, weakness, and others.
These are the seven essential tips to arrange medication for your older adults. Educate yourself and manage the medicines properly to better serve the older adults at your home. Then, work closely with the healthcare partners and provide the required medications to the senior citizens.
Read More: How to Identify Medication
