Careful medication management is crucial to the health of the seniors in our lives. Missed doses, overdoses, and drug interactions lead to scary hospitalizations every year. We understand that remembering to take medications gets tough with time.
At PeachTree Place Assisted Living Community, we’ve put together 7 tips to help you or the ones you love manage meds, regularly and safely.
- Keep Medications In Plain Sight
- Create A Routine
- Use A Pillbox
- Use Technology
- Make A Calendar Or Daily Checklist
- Speak With Their Doctor
- Consider Assisted Living
1. Keep Medications In Plain Sight
Keep prescriptions somewhere where they will easily be seen. For instance, place morning medications on the kitchen counter or table. Place evening medications on the nightstand. Just be sure they’re in a safe location where they can’t be reached by curious pets or grandchildren.
2. Create A Routine
Schedule pills with daily activities, such as breakfast time, before bed, or after taking a shower. This encourages good habits of sticking to a medication schedule.
3. Use A Pillbox
Pillboxes are a simple, convenient way to keep track of which medications have already been taken. They are especially useful for taking multiple medications throughout the day.
4. Use Technology
If you or your loved one are comfortable using a smartphone to manage their medication schedule, try using a specialized app. Or set recurring daily alarms or notifications that go off when it’s time to take a dose.
5. Make A Calendar Or Daily Checklist
If your loved one prefers a more old-fashioned way of staying organized, a checklist or calendar may be your solution. Be sure to remind them to check off or cross out the reminder after each dose to avoid overdoses.
6. Speak With A Doctor
Having prescriptions from different doctors can make managing doses very complicated and frustrating. Consider speaking with a doctor about streamlining meds in a way that doesn’t cause dangerous drug interactions.
7. Consider Assisted Living
Memory problems can become an issue that interferes with your loved one’s ability to take care of themselves. Alzheimer’s and dementia can make medication management dangerous for seniors. It might be time to consider transitioning to assisted living.
Is It Normal Forgetfulness Or Dementia?
Age-related memory problems are quite common. Some people are naturally more forgetful than others. It can be hard to distinguish normal memory loss or absentmindedness from dementia.
If you’re trying to decide whether forgetting to take prescriptions is related to dementia, talk to a doctor.
- Forgetting Names Of Friends & Family
- Struggling To Recall Certain Words
- Becoming Disoriented Easily
- Undergoing A Major Change In Personality
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Near Ogden, Utah
At PeachTree Place Assisted Living, we offer a range of services to our residents – including medication management. We also specialize in individualized Alzheimer’s care and dementia care based on your loved one’s unique needs. Call today and schedule a tour of our assisted living apartments in Utah today.
