Managing Medications

Medications are an extremely important component of an elder’s health and managing those medications can be a complex process. One aspect is timing. An elder has to remember when to take his medication and then remember whether or not he has, in fact, taken his medication. For example, remembering that he took his blood pressure medication at breakfast might be challenging in the evening, especially if he is taking multiple over pills over the course of the day. Another aspect is ordering medication and picking up medication from a pharmacy or making sure that it can delivered to your home. In order not to miss dosages, an elder has to order before the medication has run out and also place orders monthly (generally).

Managing medications can be a huge concern for caretakers, who worry that their loved ones may unintentionally forget to take their medications or accidentally mix up some medications, taking too much of one and not enough of another. On the blog Elder Care Café, an article on “Managing Your Aging Parent’s Medications” talks about the importance of having a reliable pharmacist and suggests making pill bottles look different, perhaps by color coding, to ensure that an elder would be able to differentiate between his or her various medications.

For those elders who need a bit more assistance, there are some high-tech options, including Maya from MedMinder. According to its website, Maya is a “smart wireless pill box” that links to web-based reporting system. It holds a one week supply of up to four daily doses of medications. The pill compartment flashes when the pills should be taken. If not taken after a certain period of time, it beeps and then finally calls the patient. One of my favorite features is that there is an alert for the wrong pill box being open. Taking the wrong medications can be dangerous and even lethal and this system ensures that elders are taking their proper medications at the proper times. Additionally, it communicates with the caregivers, so they know if their loved one has taken his or her pills. As medicine progresses farther and farther, there seem to be more medications and supplements that help us live longer and in better health. As medications have proliferated, so have new ways for caregivers and elders to manage them safely.

Maya from MedMinder: http://www.medminder.com/Medication-Management-System
Elder Care Cafe article: http://www.eldercarecafe.net/managing-your-aging-parent%E2%80%99s-medications/