Drug Dispensing and the Caregiver

Caregivers must deal with many different kinds of problems

For example, caregivers have to worry everyday about the need to dispense their care recipient’s medication. Furthermore, it needs to be given in a safe dose at the proper time. Trying to figure out all of the different pill sizes, colors and sizes is not easy. Another example, the doses may be an intimidating experience. This is made worse by the fact that most family caregivers are not professionals. Trained home care workers possess an in-depth knowledge of these medications. In addition, a trained caregiver will often be able to discern when a problem with the pills may be happening.

The average senior takes 3-4 pill per day

It is true, seniors and the infirm seem to be on a never ending regiment of pills Their pill box with alarms will be doling out medication on a regular basis.

New ways of dosing have become more prevalent. The old way was to take pills three, four times or five times per day or worse. The good news, modern day medication only has to be taken once or twice every day (twenty-four hour ). There is a downside . With being able to treat many more diseases , the chance for medication errors grows. The old fashion Pill Box or medication organizers are not up to the task. There are ways no reduce stress and worry. There are several simple rules to be followed.

Keep all medications in a safe and secure place

First of all, it’s a critical to keep all )TC (over the Counter) pills and prescription medications in a secure place that is safe. Children have been know to get into people’s pills. Look out for nosey visitors. Finally, confused patients will get into the ire meds if they’re left available and unattended.

Always relock the cap on a medicine bottle. If the bottle has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear the click or cannot twist anymore. Remember, even though many medicines have safety caps, children may be able to open them. Every medicine must be stored up and away and out of children’s reach and sight.

Pharmacies, in an effort to heighten medication compliance have created blister packs that show the pills with specific days of the week. If the caregiver wonders “Did I give him his morning pills?” a quick look at the blister package gives an answer. Note, all prescription pills need to be given at the same time every day. The new kinds of meds have been crafted for a very specific time periods. Again, keeping a disciplined dosing schedule will maximum positive outcomes while decreasing the risk of adverse reactions.

Never change drugs with a Doctors Consent

It is very dangerous to change dosages of drugs without first consulting the healthcare professional. It is not true, “If one is good, two is better”. Manipulating dosages of blood thinners and blood pressure pills can have unforeseen consequences. The same applies to pain killers.

Do not listen to what the TV tells you! Never begin a over-the-counter regiment of vitamins, fish oils and supplements without first talking it over with your doctor. It is safe to say, quality control for these products is lacking. There is no FDA requirements that have to be met. A combination may increase or decrease the medicinal concentration in the one’s own body.

Be aware of expiration dates on all Prescriptions

Look at the expiration date on prescription bottles. Some kinds of Prescription Meds Medications are used on an “as-needed” basis . These are prone to sitting in the medicine cabinet for a long time. They may spoil or turn bad if left too long in the cabinet or drawer. For example, nitroglycerin pills for chest pain. Another example, a ventolin inhaler for an asthma exacerbation. These are needed in a crisis situation. Not the time to find out they are expired. Furthermore, always be careful when picking up scripts. Do a double check that the prescriptions that are picked up from the pharmacy match your home list of medications. The pharmacists are human too and do make some mistakes.

What to consider if his or her condition is worsening

Time to decide if they really require all those medications. Does grandmother need a full pill organizer when she is in her late 90’s?For example, does she really need a cholesterol pill? Maybe this is the time for a family discussion with the physician and ask the questions:

- Have we reached the point where we are treating the disease instead of the patient
- Is quality of Life Better than Medication Stress overload
- Is it time to Use an Automatic Pill Dispenser with Alarms

We live in the golden age of medicine. There are many wonderful drugs to combat the health declines experienced with aging as well as disease. However, just because their are medicinal treatments available, it’s not always in the best interest of the man or women to take them.

Medication Management is a huge part of caregiving . This aspect is not going away in the foreseeable future. It is a complicated job that take dedication and knowledge. More so, it is a very precise job that requires concentration so you are able to keep to a specific schedule. The aforementioned tips are meant to simplify this task and make life that much easier for the caregiver in your family.