Living with Alzheimer’s is an incredibly difficult situation, and the challenge transcends beyond just the elderly. Caregivers are also affected, especially when it comes to medication management. Medications have been designed to help boost and strengthen the elderly’s health, but oftentimes these pills are so potent that wrong dosages can lead to problems.
Seniors are estimated to have at least three prescription medications, which they are required to take daily. These address various conditions apart from Alzheimer’s disease, such as arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension, among others. These prescriptions also come with a specific set of instructions, thereby resulting in confusion.
The complexity brought about by multiple medications, dosage frequency, and the cognitive limitation increases the chances of the senior missing the scheduled time. Unfortunately, this leads to unwarranted side effects, drug-disease or drug-drug interactions, and even other adverse reactions.
As the caregiver with other things to worry about, keeping a careful eye on each medication and their specific instructions can prove to be challenging. The question now stands: how do you ensure that your senior takes his medicines as needed? It may seem like a daunting prospect, but these tips will help you better understand and manage the task:
1 – If drugs need to be changed, change only a single drug at a time
Since your senior will not be able to recognize any side or adverse effects brought by new drugs, introducing new doses and medications need to be closely monitored. Starting a new set of medications together can be difficult to track, especially if you wish to determine which drug causes specific symptoms. That said, make sure to change one drug at a time.
2 – Do not introduce new drugs during life transition periods
It may not seem like it, but keep in mind that drugs can be heavily affected by the user’s current state. For people with Alzheimer’s, for instance, the changes can be drastic and adverse. Any change in location and environment must be dealt with accordingly, especially since it can be stressful and overwhelming. Bear in mind that those living with Alzheimer’s respond unpredictably to new medications—if you pair that with the stress of transitions, you’ll end up dealing with an even more complicated situation.
3 – Invest in a medication log
Writing medications down may not seem like much, as the concept is far from novel. The idea postulates that you simply have to jot down each medication and label them accordingly, ensuring that dosages and schedules are not missed. Why not take the idea up a notch by investing in apps for taking medicine?
Various apps are available on the market, which is also capable of notifying you via alarm when needed. You simply have to input the information necessary, including the type of medication, dosage, and of course, the schedule. These medication logs are also capable of storing other patient data, making it an incredible tool to also help doctors keep track of your senior’s health.
Making Medication Tracking Easy
Taking care of people suffering from Alzheimer’s is a difficult task, but the people suffering from it experience the worst end of the situation. They need to take multiple medicines a day, all the while attempt to keep their health in good check despite the cognitive limitations. It’s only right to help them manage their medications properly—so long as you know what to do and which tools to use, you’ll make their days easier and more manageable.
For the best medication tracker app, MedManage is the right tool for you. We offer you a cloud-based medication management system, designed for patients and caregivers alike. We’ll help you perform common tasks better, helping you store, remember, and share medication histories without a hassle. Download yours today.