Avoid Senior Medication Problems
Countless seniors are taking many medicines, which increases the likelihood of medication errors. Allow me to share several good points for elders to decrease the probability of making an error with their meds:
1. Check the label when you pick up a medication to validate that you receive the right medicine. Read back the medication to your pharmacist and doctor.
2. Keep all medication their original containers.
3. Contact your physician or pharmacist if you have any doubts about missing a dosage.
4. Always fill all medications at the same pharmacy.
5. Read the patient information sheet that accompanies your medication.
6. Advise the pharmacist right away if there is a change in the shape, color, size or smell of your prescriptions.
7. Don’t take or share another person’s prescriptions.
8. If you are in doubt about a prescription you are taking, you should consult your doctor. Be sure to ask about side effects that you might experience or expect.
9. Construct a list of all the prescriptions you are taking and share with your Caregivers and family members. Your list ought to include the following information:
- Your name, social security number and your date of birth. The Pharmacy needs this information if someone else is going to refill the medications without the client present. Your social security number and date of birth should be kept on a different piece of paper to guard against identity theft.
- Drug name (the drugs being taken, both generic and brand)
- Strength (dosage)
- Instructions for using the prescription, including how many times a day and at what time medications should be taken
- What liquids or foods are being used to take or should be used to take with meds, for example, water, juice, apple sauce etc.
- Allergy symptoms to certain medicines or foods
- Pharmacy and health care providers names, addresses, phone numbers
- Family emergency contact numbers
10. If you are in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility:
- State your name before taking any meds and always offer your wrist bracelet for identification. Ask the doctor or nurse to identify each prescription by name before you take it.
- Ask your doctor or nurse why your prescription has not been given at its regular time during your hospital stay.
If your medication was prescribed in the hospital, look for new side effects. If you experience new side effects or your condition is not improving as it should, tell your nurse or doctor. From time to time medications need to be changed when they are not performing properly.
Always ask your doctor how long a particular medications will be required. Now and then prescriptions are added in the hospital for a short term problem, but when you leave the hospital for skilled nursing or your home, the prescription isn’t stopped. A different doctor may be reluctant to stop a prescription from a different doctor.
- Remind your medical doctor if you have any allergies to certain prescriptions or food, or if you may have a condition that may possibly affect the use of certain prescriptions.
1. Tell your pharmacist and doctor if you are taking any dietary supplements or over-the-counter medications.
2. Be sure your CareGiver has a current medication log listing all prescriptions, Doctor’s name, and Pharmacy.
Make sure to only take medications that you really need and confirm with your doctor why you are taking it, how long you could require it, what side effects to expect, and that it will not conflict with any other medications you are taking.
In the Phoenix area Care-To-Go, an in-home care agency can assist
you with your prescription organization. Care-To-Go also provides
complete in-home care elder services. Contact Care-To-Go at
www.Care-To-Go.com and for an Elder Travel Companion CareToGoTravel.com
