As people age, they will typically take more medication to manage existing health conditions and to prevent new ones from emerging. As the medication list continues to grow, remembering which medications to take each day and how often can become a challenging task. According to the American Geriatrics Society, 30% of seniors in the United States have a negative reaction to prescribed drugs, typically due to either forgetting to take their medication or doubling up on the doses of medication. Here are some tips and information to develop a plan that works for you or a loved one:
Caregivers can assist a loved one with medication management in the following ways:
- Keep an up to date list off all medications
- Schedule frequent doctor appointments
- Bring a medication list to the doctor and ask about contraindications and treatment overlap
- Set a medication routine
- Check medications for expiration dates
- Organize medications by time of day or dosage
Assistive technology can be used to assist with individuals that have memory deficits, decreased strength, and impaired cognition.
- Pill boxes
- Pill bottle warning label stickers
- Pill crusher and splitter
- Timer caps
- Mobile reminder app
- CVS, Publix, and Walgreens pharmacy apps
Pharmacies, such as CVS, Walgreens, Publix, and Target, can provide various adaptations to assist with medication management:
- Specialized labels: letters, contrasting background colors, different fonts, and font sizes
- Tamper proof packaging to ensure dosage is accidentally not being increased
- Adapted pill bottles: easy open caps, timer cap, color rings to identify who the medication belongs to
- Stay consistent with one pharmacy
Be in the Know:
- Side effects of the medication
- Dosage
- Time to take the medication
- Proper storage
- If medication should be taken with food.