Help to prevent medication errors for Seniors

Help to prevent medication errors for Seniors

med-q smart pill box alarm timer

Strategies to prevent medication errors

Why is it so important to have a manner that will prevent medication errors? First, medication errors is a problem for most caregivers. Second, this is made worse if you are not living in the same house. Finally, not being there makes it very hard to give pills out at the appropriate time. In addition, there is no way of knowing if loved ones are taking them properly. Setting up a smart programmable pill reminder with alarms is always extremely helpful. Again, this is especially true when the elder individual is co operative and has the cognitive skills.

Caregiver need the added medication help.

Furthermore, seniors would still take the pills, however they will feel resentment. First, some seniors will admit to forgetting pills and supplements. The problem., they will tell you the occurrence are rare, Not True. For example, the World Health Association has date that shows up to 90% of seniors make regular medication error’s.

Pick the Best Smart Programmable pill reminder with alarms

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What is the starting point for a Strategies to Prevent Medication Errors? How to pick the Pick the Best Smart Programmable pill reminder with alarms? First, analyze the individuals pill taking needs. Ask your Doctor which medication reminders are absolutely necessary to try and reduce the number of mistakes. Make sure the pill holder can accommodate large pills and the need capacity.Caregivers have have more luck in persuading, so let the caregiver give the meds if necessary under direct supervision.

caregiver
Caregiver

To illustrate, a family member ought to be able to do prevent medication errors.

If the event that your loved is basically helpless, you need more help.

Remember, always ask the doctor before you crush pills to mix in jelly of ice cream, etc,etc… Many different kinds of pills and supplements ought not to be crushed. Hence, check with your pharmacist because crushing meds can cause harm to the user. For relief, take medications come in liquid form. .

Example of ways to prevent medication errors

Mom lives alone in the same house she grew up in

Helping with Mom’s medications was a big problem, First, me and my sister shared the responsibility. In fact, my sister lives nearby mom. However, she and mom butt heads quite often because they are very much alike! We were having problems with Mom double and triple dosing. I will definitely see about getting her the Best Smart Programmable pill reminder with alarms .

Again, prevent medication errors is a difference between life and death. Mom was always forgetting what day it is. Hence, double and triple dosing or missing doses all together. What I’m thinking of doing is organizing her pills in a Programmable pill reminder with alarm. In addition, we are going to putg a calendar clock right next to where her pill box will stay. That way she can look at the clock and pill box and know whether she has taken her meds that day or not.

We have started to rethinking the caregiver stopping by every day.

The reason, it doesn’t appear to help much regarding her life saving prescription medications.. Mom can still drive and cook and she has maids that stop by a couple of times per month. Maybe down the road a caregiver will be of help but now she is doing fine with her Programmable pill reminder.

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Consequences from medication error runs from no obvious effect to death

The shocking truth, over 125 thousand Men and Women died for medication errors in 2016. Hence, medication errors is the third leading cause of death in the US (Cancer #1, Heart Disease #2). It is a fact, medication errors have resulted in severe negative side effect, patient injury as well as premature death. Finally, knowing that a loved one’s death was preventable makes it more difficult for the deceased’s friends and family to come to terms with the death.

prevent medication errors
Med-Q medication alarm clocks prevents medication errors

Professional Healthcare Providers

Professional Health Care Providers (Doctors, Pharmacists as well as Nurses) who give the wrong medication to patients is a daily occurrence. In fact, caregiver’s mistakes leads suffering from guilt as well as levels of self-doubt. This is referred to as the second victim.

Healthcare professionals will rarely admit their mistakes. A study conducted by Pham uncovered that less than 4% of healthcare professionals informed their patients about medication error. This will not allow any personal reconciliation and closure on the medication mistake.  It also prevents reviews. Finally, covering up the errors means no changes to the system that allowed the error to happen in the first place.

Possible Strategies to Prevent Medication Errors

There are many more possible Strategies to Prevent Medication Errors.. However, it is apparent that this all too common of a mistake. Medication errors lead to harm to patients, healthcare providers as well as health organisations. A word of warning, Healthcare professionals may not report the errors. The reason, a harsh punishment in cases of accidental medication errors. Furthermore, this makes the reporting process flawed. In turn, error reporting becomes almost non-existent. To sum up, not reporting errors hinders preventive policies and practices from being introduced when needed.

There are many strategies that we can implement to minimise this preventable mistake.

First, ask yourself what is the best strategies to prevent medication errors. Second, choose the best programmable pill reminder with alarms for your loved one. Third, develop a culture of safety and robust monitoring of proper medicating.

For More Information Visit:

Med-Q Smart Pill Dispenser

How to achieve medication Compliance

Smart pill box for Prescription medications

Strategies to Prevent Medication Errors.
Strategies to Prevent Medication Errors.

If you can’t remember whether you took your medication, what do you do?

What happens if you don’t remember if you took your medications?  When one is not sure if you took a pill, never, ever just take another dose yet. What could happen if you double dose?  If someone ingests an additional dose, the consequences can be deadly. In fact, an extra dose can raise the risk of harmful effects. Check your pill organizer, count the remaining pills in the bottle, or review the instructions that came with your prescription to find specific guidance. 

doctorHealth care profsionals are in agreement, “For most medications, it is safer to accidentally miss a single dose than to double dose” . Keep in mind that the pill/dosing guidelines vary drastically depending on the medication.  For example, it is different for  blood thinners or something like birth control.), it is always best to double-check with a professional.  If in doubt, call the local pharmacy you got the prescription filled.  Also, call e the America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 .  This can help if you are concerned about over dosing. 

For further guidance, consult I can’t remember whether I took my medication, what do I do? on Medical News Today. To help prevent confusion in the future, you can implement some 9 Simple Strategies for Remembering To Take Your Medication or read the Why You Shouldn’t Skip Your Medication guide on WebMD.
 
If you are missing doses consistently, a few strategies can help get your routine back on track:
  • Use a weekly pillbox: These old fashion pill holders can be useful.   They show a quick visual cue to show which days  doses have been taken.
  • Use a Digital Pill Reminder: Medication reminders, like the Med-Q pill Box. have flashing guides.  These alarmed reminders help preventing over dosing. 
  • Try to do Habit stacking: Match up your daily pill-taking with a non-negotiable daily habit.  For example, your first cup of coffee or brushing yourhair.
  • Set electronic reminders: Use persistent reminder apps, alarm clocks, or simple smart phone alarm reminders.

What to do if Unsure?

The worry about over doing is real.  When unsure whether the dose has been taken, the best thing to do is speak with your health care provider or even your pharmacist. They will  advise you on the best course of action based on ythe specific medication. that is over dosed.

pill box for seniors

If you take oral tablets or capsules, you can count how many pills you have left. If you know when you started taking the pills out of that prescription bottle, this could help you determine whether you’ve taken your dose for that day.

Sometimes, when you haven’t taken your medication, there may still be time to take that dose. However, this could depend on the drug and dosing schedule.

Although in some cases, if it’s almost time to take your next dose, your doctor may recommend skipping the missed dose and taking your next dose at its regular time. Never take two doses at once to make up for a missed dose as doing so could raise your risk of side effects.

What happens if you accidentally take your medication twice?

Do not take more of a drug than your doctor prescribes. While serious side effects may be rare, for some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose. Some of the most dangerous medications to double-dose include:

  • heart maintenece medications
  • ADHD drugs, for example “Adderall”
  • medications for Type 1 Diabetes
  • prescription narcotic pain pills
  • psychiatric medications , for example “Wellbutrin.”

If you have any doubt, act quickly. 

Fist of all, contact your doctor right away.  Let them know you may have accidentally taken two doses or three doses of your daily medication. They will offer up advice.  The Healthcare profesional can often advise of what steps to take.  Also, they will let you know about symptoms to watch out for.

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