![9 Tips to Help You Safely Manage Your Medications 9 Tips to Help You Safely Manage Your Medications](https://crestwoodmanoronline.org/wp-content/uploads/6c6687b6-9_tips_to_help_you_safely_manage_your_medications.jpg)
Even if you happen to solely take two or three tablets every day, which incorporates about 80% of all seniors, it’s simple to get off observe. Did you’re taking them on time? Did you’re taking them in any respect? Now add in taking nutritional vitamins, over-the counter medicine, and the short-term meds prescribed for, say, a sinus an infection. It’s loads to consider.
Medicine security is a priority for seniors. Drug interactions may be life-threatening or trigger excessive drowsiness, which might result in falls. There are even circumstances of seniors skipping vital meds to keep away from costly refills. The underside line is, managing a number of medicines may be overwhelming, much more so for these with advancing reminiscence points.
We’ve put collectively 9 ideas to assist seniors, in addition to relations and different caregivers, safely handle medicines whereas sustaining good well being practices.
Higher Medicine Administration in 9 Easy Steps
- Make a Checklist — Fastidiously write down each prescription and some other tablets (even nutritional vitamins) you’re taking usually. Embrace the time of day you’re taking them, the power, and what number of you’re taking every day. You’ll want to share and replace with relations and any caregivers.
- Be Scrip Savvy — Seek the advice of along with your physician and pharmacist about your medicines and the best way to take them correctly. Know the “take with or with out meals” guidelines and “morning vs. night” suggestions. Additionally ask about attainable meals interactions. Grapefruit juice impacts ldl cholesterol medicine, for instance. Milk impacts antibiotics.
- Know the Facet Results — Some meds have none. Others could make you dizzy, drowsy, nauseous, and many others. Know what to search for. Don’t cease a drug, although, with out speaking with the doctor or pharmacist who prescribed it.
- Keep away from Self-Prescribing — Resist the temptation to take only one extra capsule to really feel higher or skip a capsule to economize or as a result of it has unwanted side effects you don’t like. Focus on your issues along with your physician and your loved ones first.
- Don’t Assume Your Physician Is aware of — Whereas laptop information hold higher observe of your medicine, generally docs might not learn each element. It’s as much as you to maintain a prescription checklist useful and share it at every go to … simply to be protected.
- Well being Modifications Matter — Once more, your physician might not know every thing about you. Let each physician you see learn about any modifications in your well being, since some modifications can have an effect on how your physique responds to a drug. That features sicknesses, weight acquire or loss, or different situations.
- Ask Questions Each Time — You’re a part of the medical group in relation to your individual well being or that of a beloved one. Make sure you ask questions to know what a drug is and why you’re taking it, even when it’s prescribed for a short lived situation like a sinus an infection. Attempt to have an advocate alongside for key appointments as an additional pair of ears.
- One Pharmacy for All — Attempt to fill all prescriptions by way of one pharmacy if attainable. The pc information they hold can alert the pharmacist about potential drug interactions anytime a brand new drug is prescribed for you. Additionally, a pharmacist who is aware of you may be extra knowledgeable about your situations and may higher reply medicine questions.
- Get Organized — Wonderful organizer aids can be found, together with digital
pillboxes and reminder apps in your telephone or pill. It’s even attainable to let a household
member dispense tablets for you remotely utilizing a smartphone. Additionally examine into the brand new
prepackaged capsule packs (typically coated by Medicare) that set up all of your tablets into
conveniently marked pouches.
The group at Crestwood Manor is right here to assist.
Among the many great advantages of residing at Crestwood Manor is the supply of private care companies from expert caregivers as a part of our full continuum of care. In the event you or your loved ones members are involved about protected medicine administration, don’t hesitate to ask us for recommendation and steering. To be taught extra concerning the way of life and senior care companies provided at our Life Plan Group, contact us right this moment.