Helping elderly to take medicine safely
Many older people do not know how to take medicines safely and can often get confused. Here are a few handy tips to help:
Keep a list
Keep of list of medicines your older relative is given and what they are for. We all have medicines in our cupboards, which we cannot remember the uses for and this can be dangerous. It also helps to keep a list in case your parent is taken into hospital or has to see an emergency doctor. Include any supplements taken in this list as well, as they can affect medication.
Use this list to record any allergies, your relative’s blood type and any contraindications to certain drugs, such as penicillin.
Take medicine as prescribed
It is really important to follow the dosage prescribed by the doctor. Sometimes, it’s easy to forget if you’ve taken a tablet. Pill dispensers can be very handy for this purpose, to remind your relative when and how many tablets to take. You can pre-load these for them.
It can also help to write larger labels and to colour code medicines as helpful reminders of how and when to take them.
If your parent misses a dose, they should take it as soon as they remember.
Try to use the same pharmacy, so that they know your elderly relatives requirements and prescriptions. It takes away a great deal of hassle and it’s good for an older person to feel they can go somewhere where they will be recognised and someone understands their problems.
Clear the medicine cabinet or drawer
It is very important to throw out expired medicine, so do a quarterly check.
Store medicine correctly
Make sure medicines are stored a the specified temperature and refrigerated if necessary.
Renewing prescriptions
Many older people need repeat prescriptions of drugs, so keep an eye on how many they have left, so they do not need to get more as an emergency, which may mean they go without key drugs, if they cannot see the doctor that day.
If you are ever concerned about your elderly relative’s medication, call their GP or pharmacist or contact NHS Direct.
