Aging is one of the major factors for various illnesses, and these health problems can usually be treated or managed with prescription drugs. However, older adults are more prone to experiencing medicine-related problems, such as non-compliance, misuse of medications, adverse drug reactions, and drug interactions.
Some undesirable effects of drugs among the elderly are caused by physiological changes that come with aging. But even when used as prescribed, some medications may cause various problems, such as incontinence, nausea, constipation, dizziness, changes in sleep patterns, breathing problems, bruising and bleeding, and more.
Whether intentional or purely accidental, medication misuse can have a devastating impact on your senior loved one’s health. To help them manage their medications responsibly, follow the tips below:
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List down all medications they are currently taking
If your elderly family member is taking many medications, list down each one and discuss them with their physician. It’s a good idea to even bring the bottles and containers with you to the appointments. Informing the prescriptions to specialists who take care of your loved one can prevent medication misuse and ensure proper coordination.
Aside from the list, consider creating a written guide for the medications, including how they are administered, what time they should be taken, what they are for, and what are their possible side effects. Make sure the physician and your loved one understand them and remind your family member to report any unusual symptoms to you and their doctor.
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Buy a quality medication container
Some seniors may have a hard time opening and closing their medication containers, especially if they have problems with their joints. To ensure that your loved one can take their prescribed drugs without problems, ask them if they can open and close their pillboxes easily.
If you need to buy a new medication container, choose one that is easier to open, organizes pills, and has labels for easy dosing and tracking. You can also consider a locking medication organizer if your senior loved one tends to reorganize their doses and has trouble remembering when they have taken their medication.
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Use a medication log app
Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. When your family member tends to forget taking their medication, use a medicine log app like ours. With its built-in medication reminder service, our MedManage app helps you take care of your loved one by letting them log and manage their prescribed drugs easily.
Aside from ensuring they stick to their medication schedule, MedManage offers a wide range of uses. It can track chronic diseases, provide elder and geriatric care management, remind you to take birth control pills on time, and monitor opioids and other potentially dangerous substance abuse.
Conclusion
Taking medications can help manage symptoms or treat illnesses of your elderly loved one. Unfortunately, many problems can be encountered when consuming prescribed drugs. Following the tips mentioned above can help them avoid drug-induced medical problems. Meanwhile, when you need a medicine tracker app, try a functional and easy-to-use one like ours.
Help your loved one maintain a daily medication log with our medicine tracker app. Our cloud-based medication management system for patients and caregivers is available in the US. Download now!