Problems associated with the use of prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and herbal or other alternative therapies are more likely to affect older persons. The sheer volume of prescriptions the typical senior takes has a substantial impact on issues with noncompliance, drug interactions, adverse drug reactions, and pharmaceutical abuse.
The aging process causes physiological changes in the body that increase susceptibility to pharmacological side effects. In fact, certain pharmaceuticals should never be provided to elderly patients because they are more harmful than similar prescriptions.
Adverse medication responses are considered to be the cause of between 10 and 30 percent of hospital admissions among the elderly, some of which are deadly. Thankfully, there are a number of medication management tips to support an elderly loved ones in managing their prescriptions appropriately and preventing drug-related health issues.
Ensure that the senior's primary care doctor is informed of all the drugs they are currently taking. Keep a current list or even bring the bottles and containers with you when you visit the doctor. To ensure that their care is coordinated, make sure that any specialists they see provide a report back to their regular doctor.
Request prescriptions for each medication's use as well as written descriptions of any potential adverse effects from the prescribing doctors. Remind your loved one to tell their doctor if they have any unexpected symptoms.
Make sure that the elderly are aware of when and how to take each prescription. For these instructions, if you are unable to accompany them to a doctor's appointment, call the doctor or the nurse.
Find out if your loved one can open and seal their prescription containers easily. You might wish to invest in a medicine box that is simpler to open and includes compartments for organizing pills for simple monitoring and dosing. Even pre-sorted drugs in blister packets that are simple to open are available in some pharmacies. A locking medication organizer, however, might be a good idea if your loved one has trouble remembering when they've taken their medication and keeping their medicine box organized. This will stop them from rearranging their doses.
If at all possible, attempt to fill all of your elder's prescriptions at the same pharmacy so that the prescription information is all in one place. With the help of this comprehensive list, the pharmacist may check for potential drug interactions and respond to any inquiries regarding combining prescription and over-the-counter medications. Additionally, many pharmacies offer contact number help to their clients.
Examine all of the household's prescriptions on a regular basis to get rid of those that are expired or no longer needed for your loved one's routine.
Safe and independent living may still be feasible if you've decided that your loved one is capable of taking the necessary drugs at the right times, even with assistance. It's important to think about boosting supporting services if the capacity to independently manage drugs diminishes and tools like medicine boxes and reminders aren't working.
With that being said, this blog would like to direct you to one of the best geriatric care providers. Athulya Senior Care has been providing top-quality medical care coupled with love and compassion. Under the brand, they are catering to the needs of the elderly with a wide spectrum of services. Athulya Home Healthcare provides various services including home doctor visits, home medicine delivery, and much more. If you are looking forward to helping your loved ones with medication you can seek us. Our services will help you to take care of the elderly in the best way possible.
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