Managing medication can become routine, but there is also a lot of room for error.
An older adult may be taking medications prescribed by several different doctors, along with over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or supplements. Add changes after a hospitalization or a new diagnosis, and suddenly keeping everything straight can become overwhelming.
The difficult part for families is that Mom or Dad may insist they are handling everything just fine.
So how can you tell when they might need a little extra help?
Here are 5 warning signs that an aging parent may not be managing medications safely.
1. The Pillbox or Prescription Bottles Don’t Look Right
Sometimes the first clue is sitting right on the kitchen counter.
If you visit on Thursday and pills from Monday or Tuesday are still sitting in the weekly organizer, medications may be getting missed.
Prescription bottles can provide clues, too. Is a 30-day prescription empty after only three weeks? Or is there still quite a bit left when it’s time for a refill?
Either situation may indicate that medications aren’t being taken according to the prescribed schedule.
Don’t automatically assume it’s simply forgetfulness. Ask questions and try to understand what’s happening.
2. They Frequently Ask, “Did I Take My Medicine?”
We’ve probably all walked into a room and forgotten why we went there. Occasional forgetfulness happens at every age.
But regularly being unsure whether a medication was taken can become a safety concern.
If your loved one frequently asks whether they already took their morning or evening medications, they may accidentally skip a dose—or take the same medication twice.
It may be time for a better medication system or some additional support.
3. There Have Been Several Recent Medication Changes
Medication management can become especially confusing after a hospitalization, rehabilitation stay, specialist appointment, or new diagnosis.
One medication may have been discontinued. Another may have changed doses. A completely new medication may have been added.
Meanwhile, an older prescription bottle may still be sitting in the medicine cabinet.
The situation can become even more complicated when several healthcare providers are involved in your loved one’s care.
Your parent may see a primary care physician along with a cardiologist, pulmonologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, or other specialists.
Keeping an accurate, current medication list and sharing it with healthcare providers can help everyone involved in care work from the same information.
4. You’ve Noticed New Changes in Their Health
Sometimes a medication concern doesn’t show up in the pillbox.
Instead, you notice a change in the person.
Maybe Mom seems unusually tired. Dad has started complaining about dizziness. Your loved one seems more confused than usual or has suddenly become unsteady when walking.
Changes like these should never simply be dismissed as “getting older.”
New or worsening symptoms should be reported to the appropriate healthcare provider, particularly when medications have recently been started, stopped, or changed.
5. The Medication Routine Has Simply Become Too Complicated
Sometimes there isn’t one dramatic warning sign.
There are simply too many medications, too many instructions, and too many opportunities for confusion.
Take this one with food.
Take that one on an empty stomach.
Take this twice a day.
Don’t take these two together.
Take half of this tablet.
Stop taking the medication you’ve taken for the last three years.
Even someone who has always been extremely independent can have difficulty keeping up when a medication regimen becomes complicated.
Recognizing that doesn’t mean taking away someone’s independence.
In fact, putting the right support in place may help them maintain their independence and continue living safely at home.
How Skilled Nursing Can Help
Medication management is about much more than reminding someone to take a pill.
Our Skilled Nurses can assess how medications are being managed in the home, provide education, monitor for concerns, and communicate important changes to the patient’s physician and healthcare team.
At Seaside Home Health Care, medication management is an important part of the skilled nursing care we provide.
Our nurses can help patients and families better understand medication routines, identify potential concerns, monitor changes in a patient’s condition, and communicate with physicians when necessary.
That extra set of trained eyes in the home can be especially valuable after a hospitalization, new diagnosis, medication change, or noticeable change in a loved one’s health.
Pay Attention to the Little Clues
Medication problems don’t always announce themselves with a major event.
Sometimes the first clue is a pill left behind.
An empty bottle.
A confused question.
Or simply a feeling that Mom or Dad isn’t keeping track of things quite as well as they used to.
Those little signs are worth paying attention to.
Addressing concerns early may help prevent a small medication problem from becoming a much bigger one.
At Seaside Home Health Care, our goal is to help seniors throughout Southwest Florida remain safe, supported, and as independent as possible in the comfort of their own homes.
If you’re concerned about how you or a loved one is managing medications at home, contact Seaside Home Health Care to learn how our skilled nursing team may be able to help.
