Senior Health: Ways to Manage Medications at Home

It usually begins simple enough — your grandparents or parents may start taking medication to manage their cholesterol or blood pressure. Over time, they may need another medication to control different symptoms and side effects. When seniors start to take multiple drugs to treat a single ailment or condition, it turns into polypharmacy.

When seniors take multiple medications, they need help managing each one. Professional caregivers in Massachusetts can make medication management easier by offering assistance and medication reminders. Likewise, there are ways seniors and their caregivers can manage medications at home:

• Create a list of medications.

  In addition to personal care in Massachusetts, caregivers can help seniors keep track of their medications. Create a list of all medications they are taking and update the list after every doctor’s appointment or hospital discharge. Your senior loved one’s primary care provider should review this list regularly.

• Use pill organizers and containers.

  Pillboxes or organizers help seniors take the right drug on the right day and at the right time. Along with meal preparation, caregivers can reduce the stress of organizing medications by using these containers. Ideally, caregivers should fill pillboxes every two to four weeks to ensure seniors don’t run out.

• Monitor other drugs or products.

  Seniors may take non-prescription drugs in addition to their prescriptions. Caregivers should also monitor other medications and products they take, such as supplements and vitamins. Common over-the-counter drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sleep aids, cough suppressants, and antihistamines.

PRECIOUS YOU HEALTHCARE is an established home care agency in Canton, Massachusetts delivering exceptional care. Learn how we make medication management easier — contact us today.