Is your elderly parent on many medications? If so, they might not be able to manage all of these medications on their own. Each medication can cause side effects. There may be certain drug interactions with some of them, as well. These are just a couple of the safety issues that your elderly parent may have with their medications. However, there are some safety tips that you can learn to help your elderly parent be safer with their medications.
Take Everything as it is Prescribed
The most important thing for medication safety with your elderly parent is that they are taking everything as it is prescribed. No matter how little or how many medications they are on, they should follow the doctor’s orders on each one. Your elderly parent should be taking all medications at the appropriate times and at the proper dosage every time. With this being said, your elderly loved one might forget to take their medication. They might not be able to read the label well and may mess up the dosage. This is where you and senior care providers can help. You can share the responsibility of ensuring your elderly parent takes their medications as prescribed.
Have an Updated List of Medications
It is also important that your elderly parent always has an updated list of medications. They will need this medication list at all of their doctor’s appointments. This way every one of their doctors knows which medications they are on and the dosage. Your elderly loved one might have trouble making this list. However, you or one of their senior care providers can create it for them and keep it updated. Be sure to include any herbal medications, supplements, or over-the-counter medications your elderly parent takes, in addition to their prescriptions.
Learn How to Store Them
It is very important that the medications your elderly parent needs to take are stored properly. For instance, there are some medications that can’t be near heat. There are other medications that must be kept in the refrigerator. Be sure to read the pamphlets that come with all of your elderly parent’s medications. Then, you or the senior care providers can follow the instructions on how to store them correctly.
Your elderly loved one needs to be safe with their medications. If you and their senior care providers help them with these medications safety tips, they can take them and store them properly. They can also make sure all their doctors know which medications they are on, as well. If you have any further questions about your elderly parent’s medications, be sure to talk to the prescribing doctor or the pharmacy.
Source: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/4-medication-safety-tips-older-adults