Safe Medication Management during Old Age

The risk of chronic diseases increases with age and most old people suffer from multiple health conditions and comorbidities. The prevalence of these conditions calls for complex treatment as elders are usually given various medications and drugs to manage diseases and disorders. Another common concern is the senior medication problem as skipping the dose, taking the wrong dosage or combination of drugs can lead to serious health consequences. Therefore, a proper guide to medication management plays a crucial role in empowering seniors, family members and caregivers on the effective usage, storage, retrieval and organisation of medicines.

It is equally important to understand how ageing affects the response of our body to the consumption of medicines and also maintain a vigilant tracking on the dosage being taken. Elderly care facilities support their elderly residents in safe medication management. Athulya Assisted Living is one such premier assisted living facility for the senior living community in Chennai. It not only provides well-equipped and affordable senior-friendly spaces in a homely atmosphere but also gives skilled nursing care for taking care of the health needs of senior citizens. The well–trained and empathetic caregivers here scrupulously ensure that the elders take the correct medicines and follow the right diet, therapy and activity regime for their well-being.

Medication Tips for Seniors

• Ensure that the medications are taken consistently at a particular time every day. For doing this you may associate it with a particular event of the day like a meal so that it is not forgotten.
• Most seniors tend to have poor memory and tend to skip the prescribed dose. Medication app reminders or alarms may be used to overcome this problem.
• Several medicines cannot be taken along with each other or with certain foods and health supplements. This is because they are likely to cause dangerous drug interactions and side-effects. So discuss with your doctors before making any dietary or medication changes to prevent complications.
• Make sure that you have a medication review done by the Doctors with respect to the medicines and supplements every time a new prescription is given. You may get recommendations regarding which combination of these items may be taken together for best healthcare outcomes without any adverse effects and reactions.
• Seek the advice of your doctor if you have memory problems and are likely to take extra doses or skip one of them frequently. This is crucial because while this mistake may be harmless in the context of some medicines, there may be serious side-effects and strong reactions in some cases.
• Check the expiry date of the medicines before taking them and do not take them if the packing or composition is hampered. It is also advisable to buy medicines from known pharmacists and brands.
• Always make it a standard practice to read the instructions and literature that comes along with the medications especially before using them the first time. If you need clarifications regarding some of these points, make a note of it and consult your doctor before taking the first dose.
• Use a pill organiser for storing your medicines safely and taking them correctly. These boxes are easily available in all drug stores and are beneficial because they have different compartments for keeping medicines for different days and times. Keeping the medicines organized also helps to prevent medication errors and ensures that you are well stocked up in advance and do not face a shortage. Maintain a buffer stock of regular and emergency medicines.
• Maintain a comprehensive medication list by writing down a complete list of medicines that you are taking. Also, mention the quantity and time of the day at which it needs to be taken. This is helpful because the doctor can quickly get an overview of the medications and be aware of your existing health condition when you go for a consultation or face a health emergency.
• Do not ignore supplements. Many seniors take or skip them without anticipating the interactions they are likely to cause with the regularly prescribed drugs.
• Exercise extra caution to make sure that you do not become addicted to some drugs unconsciously. Senior loneliness and depression can cause over dosage and drug abuse resulting in dangerous consequences and even fatality!