Different medications. Different dosages. Different times of day. It’s no wonder medication management can be a challenge for seniors. An effective plan for managing the medications of your loved one begins with 2 considerations–people and tools. Ask the questions (1) Who is the right person to oversee a loved one’s medications? and (2) What tools are available to assist in the correct delivery of medication?

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WHO’S IN CHARGE?

Who comes to mind when you think of someone who is organized, competent, and trustworthy? The person you put in charge of managing someone’s medication should possess these traits. You might think of a daughter, a spouse, or a neighbor. You might think of a nurse.

Nurse’s Note: If you decide to hire a nurse for any type of home care, make sure it is a nurse with an active license in your state. A Google search can help with license verification. Simply use your state in your search string, for example, “professional nurse license verification Delaware”.

You can also choose a skilled home health agency (like Silver Lining Home Healthcare) for medication management. A skilled home health agency will ensure all their nurses are trained and licensed. They will also have backup nurses if your regular nurse is unavailable. Silver Lining Home Healthcare specifically offers a Medication Management program – book services today at our website: silverlininghealthcare.com.

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MEDICATION REMINDER AND DELIVERY TOOLS

There are so many products on the market today that help ensure the accurate and timely delivery of medication. From simple pill boxes to more technological gadgets, there are delivery tools to suit many different needs.

• Whether taking daily supplements and vitamins or prescription medications for specific conditions, many of us can appreciate a little help with planning and remembering to do so.  A pill box like the EZY Dose One-Day-At-A-Time at Walgreen’s makes it simple. We love the easy open tabs, the 2x and 4x per day options and the large bins for more medications. At under $10, this pill box is a great tool!
• Consider a cell phone app. Most people have a cell phone and it’s something they usually have within close reach. Here are the top 5 medication apps that can help you or a loved one take the right medication at the right time.
• A MedCenter Talking Alarm Clock is a timed voice prompt that can enhance the pill box method. A pre-recorded message (“Dad, time to take your pills.”) is scheduled to play throughout the day when it’s time to take medications.
• The MedCenter Reminder System combines the talking alarm clock with a pill planner system that’s a bit more elaborate than a pill box. We love this system because there are separate compartments for each round of medications.

Nurse’s Note: Many talking alarm systems come with a pill box system that opens one main lid to reveal all the individual compartments. Even though all the medications are separated and labeled for day and time, there is a greater chance of taking the pills from the wrong slot, forgetting what day it is,  or even spilling the entire container. We prefer separate closures for each day.

The MedCenter Talking Alarm Clock and the MedCenter Reminder System work well for people who are competent, but, like many people, can be forgetful. If you are caring for someone who is not competent, you can still use these systems but we recommend having someone monitor them and watch for signs that indicate it is time to advance to a more sophisticated system. Some suggestions:

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• Livi is an automated pill dispensing machine that can hold up to 90 days of medications and dispense up to 15 pills at at a time. A caregiver can receive text alerts when medication is dispensed or if a dose is missed.
• Phillips Automated Medication Dispensing Service is another option for complex medication management. Medication is loaded by a caregiver who provides the dispensing schedule to Phillips. Phillips programs the dispenser. An alert is sounded when it is time to take medication. At the push of a button, the pills are dispensed. The dispenser is connected to the telephone line, so if a dose is missed, the dispenser can contact you or another family member. You can then check on your loved one to make sure they are getting their medication.

Once you’ve chosen a medical reminder and delivery system, our Medication Management Checklist is the perfect tool to help you get started. Use the steps we’ve outlined for you and you’ll be on your way to a streamlined and organized delivery system of your meds.

Medication management is a critical component of a total care plan. According to an article in Drugs & Aging (2005), as many as 200,000 people may die of medication-related problems each year in the United States. There are so many options to help seniors and caregivers manage a safe and consistent medication plan. Call us today to learn more.

Thank you to special contributor Amy Clark. Amy Clark is a Registered Nurse who is Silver Lining Home Healthcare’s Clinical Director. She has over 12 years in the healthcare field and excels at finding the resources her clients need to age happily at home.