Teens are constantly reminded of the detrimental effects of misusing drugs, but who is talking to seniors?
According to a survey conducted by Home Instead Senior Care, nearly one in five seniors have difficulty keeping track of their medications.
Confusion results from forgetting when to take a medication; remembering what they have already taken and when; understanding cost, directions and how to open containers according to Hannah Sick, community service representative of Home Instead in Jonesborough.
While some simple solutions exist to insure that seniors do not make devastating consequences with their medications, knowing these solutions and how to introduce them is not always easy for loved ones.
“In many cases, seniors have been managing this aspect of their lives on their own for many years and may not be fully aware of the potential pitfalls,” said Sick.
Knowing how to manage medications is important she said, because it can help them to maintain independence at home.
Each person, family and living situation is unique, said Sick, but identifying what issues a senior may be experiencing can be difficult. She said the best way to approach the conversation is to personalize the conversation.
“If there has been a specific safety concern with their loved one, we encourage the family members to approach the specific issue in a loving and respectful manner,” said Sick.
Sick offered some tips for seniors to help stay organized:
• Ask questions about medications
• Consider inviting a loved one to appointments to help remember questions to ask
• Set and stick to a schedule to ensure they are taking their medication at the correct time and intervals
• Use tools such as pill boxes, pill packs and other reminders, like a cell phone alarm
• Family members can call and check in daily to ensure their medication was taken
Seniors that are not able to follow these tips may consult with Home Instead Caregivers or with their physicians. Home Instead provides non-medical services like medication reminders.
“Discussing medication regimens with a loved one increases their self-confidence to correctly take their prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins,” said Dr. Jane Potter, geriatrician and director of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “This is increasingly important both as an individual ages and the number of medications they take increases. Taking more medications puts seniors at higher risk for a medical emergency from incorrect dosing or adverse medication interactions.”
To obtain the solutions guide, or to view other program resources and tips, visit www.LetsTalkAboutRx.com.