“Just Say No.”
For children of the 80s, the U.S. war on drugs was a vigilant one, with warnings about illegal substances echoing from classrooms, televisions, and dinner tables. Today the tables have turned, and many of those children are now caregivers to elderly parents and grandparents. Swamped by a barrage of orange pill bottles and little knowledge of their intended use, these drugs might be legal but are potentially no less lethal if used improperly.
That’s why Home Instead Senior Care is launching a national effort to educate seniors and caregivers on the risk of medication misuse. Home Instead provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families, including Alzheimer’s assistance and hospice support.
In a recent survey of seniors, Home Instead found that nearly one-fifth of those taking five or more prescription medications have experienced challenges in managing their medications, including keeping track of which medications they have taken and when. Let’s Talk about RxSM offers families free resources and tips, as well as insight into potential medication pitfalls facing seniors.
Challenges for Seniors
“We’ve been talking about medication management for a while now and have been diving in to have those conversations with families,” said Maggie Lea, Home Instead franchise owner for Middle and East Tennessee. Of seniors surveyed, at least 57 percent were taking four or more prescriptions, with one-fourth taking six or more, and 20 percent admitted to experiencing challenges.
“With those numbers, we really needed to look at med safety,” Lea said. Medication challenges extend beyond taking the wrong pill. Factors affecting mismanagement include costs, the ability to open bottles and read instructions, taking meds no longer needed and simply remembering to take them.
All in the Family
Lea said medication management should be a family affair. Learn about a senior’s medications and provide reminders as needed. A complete medication list should be reviewed often by the family and provider to ensure all drugs are still necessary. Use pill boxes and medication trackers, or look into pharmacies like Simple MedsSM that package medications and vitamins in single-dose packs. Many local pharmacies also are willing to bubble wrap medications together, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, at no additional cost.
Since some elderly adults refuse to take pills, families can also talk to the pharmacist about putting it in liquid form or the possibility of breaking medication up into food. “You have to be creative with what you do, but don’t get discouraged,” Lea said. “Ask a pharmacist for help and come up with a plan everyone in the household is comfortable with.”
It’s also important for providers to have ongoing conversations with family members. “What we see with families is that no one is talking to them,” Lea said “They feel as though they’re on an island and don’t know where to go. Providers need to know how to start those conversations and provide families with resources to help.”
For more information and tips, go to www.LetsTalkAboutRx.com.
PHOTOS: Headshot of Maggie Lea. General illustration, pill bottle with pills spilling out or multiple pill bottles.
RELATED LINKS:
Home Instead Medication Management Program
