What Is Medication Management And Do Seniors Need It?
Seniors that are aging in place may need help organizing their medications and making sure they are taking them correctly. According to a study done in 2004 seniors are seven times more likely than younger people to make mistakes taking their medication.
Part of the reason why seniors have such a difficult time keeping track of their medications is because seniors typically take several different medications. According to Merck more than 30% of seniors take five medications or more. It’s easy to see why that could be confusing for seniors.
Medication management is one of the services provided through Personal Care at Home. When seniors receive assistance from Personal Care at Home, their care provider can organize their medications and ensure that seniors take their medications on time. The benefits of medication management for seniors include:
Better Health
When a Personal Care at Home provider is helping seniors keep track of their medications and take them on time every day that medication will be able to do its job and improve your senior parent’s health.
Reduced Risk Of Overdose
Seniors may forget when they have already taken their medications and take them twice. They also may accidentally take too much of their medication and end up having a serious health crisis as a result. With medication management seniors have a much lower risk of experiencing a medication overdose.
Documentation Of Side Effects
There’s really no way to predict what side effects seniors will experience from new medications, or how those medications will interact with other medications your senior parent is taking. Personal Care at Home providers, who offer medication management services, can document and track the side effects your senior parent experiences and inform the doctor if they are having adverse or severe reactions to a specific medication.
Prevention Of Taking Duplicate Medications
Seniors taking duplicate medications or too many medications is called polypharmacy. And it’s much more common than people realize. A well-trained care provider can help prevent this by keeping your senior parent’s medications organized and keeping a list of the medications they are taking.
Independent Living
Seniors want to age in place are much more likely to be able to successfully live independently with help at home and with help managing their medication use.
This autonomy contributes to a sense of well-being and helps seniors maintain their quality of life as they age.
Better Cognitive Health
When seniors take a lot of medications it can start to impact their cognitive health. And when seniors experience poor cognitive health they may start making medication mistakes. Medication management prevents that vicious circle by making sure that seniors are taking only the medications they need. And it ensures that seniors are taking those medications on time everyday.
Help With Refills
A care provider can help seniors get the medication refills they need. By keeping a list of the medications and organizing them by the date their refills are due care providers can call in refills to the pharmacy, phone doctors to get new prescriptions, and make sure that seniors aren’t left without medication when they need it.
Sources: Source 1 | Source 2 | Source 3 | Source 4
If you or an aging loved one are considering Personal Care at Home in Towson, MD please contact the caring staff at A+ Personal Home Care. Call (443) 660-8757
A+ Personal Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Baltimore and DC Metro Area, with offices in Pikesville and Gaithersburg.
At A+ Personal Home Care, our mission has always been to provide exceptional care, compassion, and a nurturing environment for our beloved community members. Over the years, we have strived to create a place where individuals can find solace, engage in meaningful activities, and receive the highest quality of medical attention.
A+ Personal Home Care is always striving to improve and exceed expectations. We welcome feedback and suggestions from our clients and their families, as your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our care programs. We want to ensure that we continue to meet your needs and remain a trusted pillar of support within our community.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the families who have placed their trust in us. Your support and loyalty inspire us to continue providing exceptional care every day. We are committed to fostering an atmosphere of love, respect, and dignity, and we consider it an honor to serve you and your loved ones.
Should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any member of our dedicated team. We are here to listen, assist, and ensure that your experience at A+ Personal Home Care remains fulfilling and positive.
Thank you once again for choosing A+ Personal Home Care as your partner in care. We look forward to sharing many more moments of joy, growth, and healing with you and your loved ones in the days to come.
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