Help Your Elderly Parent Practice Good Medication Management
Chances are if your parents are elderly, they are taking at least one or more prescription medications daily. In fact, the Washington Post cites research that estimates, “25 percent of people ages 65 to 69 take at least five prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions, a figure that jumps to nearly 46 percent for those between 70 and 79.” Polypharmacy refers to the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and puts people more at risk for adverse drug interactions, an area of special concern for the elderly.
Alarming figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state almost 450,000 older adults (65 years old or older) visit the emergency room each year because of adverse, or harmful, drug events. Doctors say while many of these problems are preventable, when you take a number of prescriptions, it can get confusing keeping up with various instructions such as “take on an empty stomach,” and the adverse side effects.
Experts say to help a parent get organized, write down the names of all of the drugs they are taking, the dosage, and if they see several doctors, who prescribed them. Include any herbal supplements, multi-vitamins and over-the-counter drugs. The next time they see their primary care doctor, take your list and discuss the reasons for each drug, how long they will be on it, and if any of the drugs are dangerous. Whenever a new drug is prescribed, ask what it is for and how it should be taken, and read through the paperwork.
Store medications together in a cool, dry location (not the bathroom), discard old, expired medications, and find a pill organizer that makes sense for your parent’s needs. If they are forgetful, they may need a reminder system. However, if a parent is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, they should be carefully monitored.
At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, our residents’ wellbeing and physical health is our primary concern. This is why one of our many services is medication management that ensures residents take medications properly, and as we even order medications, there is no danger of them running out. Please visit our website for more information about exceptional memory care and assisted living in Colorado Springs.
MorningStar has considered it a privilege and responsibility to “cast a new light” on senior living, inspired and empowered by our unique mission: to honor, to value, to invest. Our passionate commitment to serving seniors has proudly earned us a reputation for family satisfaction second to none. Contact us to learn more about the finest memory care and assisted living Colorado Springs offers.