Health

5 Ways to Help the Elderly Take Their Medication on Time

The elderly are a population that is often forgotten in today’s society. Their needs are not always met, and they often have to fend for themselves. This can make taking their medication on time difficult, if not impossible. Fortunately, there are ways to help the elderly take their medication on time. In this blog post, we will explore five such ways. From apps to reminders, read on to learn how you can help the elderly take their medication on time with ease.

Check for Drug Interactions

Senior Man Sitting On Bed At Home Taking Medication

If you are a caregiver for an elderly person, it is important to be aware of potential drug interactions. Some of the most common drug interactions include:

-Taking certain medications together can increase the risk of bleeding or death. It is important to be aware of which medications your elderly loved one takes and to monitor them closely if they are taking multiple medications.

-Some medications can interact with other foods or drinks your elderly loved one consumes. It is important to keep track of their diet and drink habits in order to avoid any potential complications.

-Certain medications can interact with other forms of medication, such as over-the-counter drugs or supplements. It is important to consult with a doctor before combining different types of medication.

Store Medications in a Cool, Dry Place

Senior man organizing his medication into pill dispenser. Senior man taking pills from box

There are many ways to help the elderly take their medications on time. Some tips include keeping them cool and dry and making sure they have all of their medication with them.

Keeping medications cool and dry can help them stay fresh. Place them in the refrigerator or freezer if you think your elder will not be able to take them on time.

Making sure your elderly loved one has all of their medication with them can make taking their medications much easier. Include a reminder card or list of medications with the elder’s prescription so they don’t have to search for it when they need to take their medication.

Check for Difficulty Swallowing Medications

If you are an elderly person, it is important to be able to take your medications on time. Difficulty swallowing medications can cause them to not work as well and can lead to health problems. There are many ways that you can help the elderly take their medication on time:

First, be sure to tell your doctor if you have difficulty swallowing medications. This will help them create a medication that is easier for them to take.

Second, make sure that the medication is easy to take. If the pills are small or hard to swallow, ask your doctor for a pill crusher or a pill splitter. These devices make it easier for elderly people to swallow their medication.

Third, drink plenty of water before taking your medications. This will help wash down the pills and make them more easily absorbed by the body.

Fourth, chew gum regularly while taking your medications. Chewing helps break up the pill so it can be more easily swallowed.

Finally, try not to eat large meals right before taking your medications. This will increase the difficulty of swallowing them and may lead to delayed absorption of the medication into the body.

Teach an Elderly Person How to Take Their Medication on Time

Senior woman taking prescription medications

Elderly people often have difficulty taking their medication on time. There are a number of ways you can help an elderly person take their medication on time:

1. Make a Schedule: Establish a regular schedule for taking medications. Elderly people often forget what day it is or when their next dose is due. Scheduling helps to keep them organized and avoids confusion.

2. Set a Time Limit: Let the elderly person know how long they have until their next dose, and set a time limit for taking that dose. This will help them avoid missing doses and ensure that they take their medications on schedule.

3. Remind the elderly person when their next dose is due: If the elderly person fails to take their medication on time, remind them by calling or texting them, or visiting them in person.

Encourage an Elderly Person to Doublecheck their Medication Schedule

Elderly sick ill woman hold pills on hand pouring capsules from medication bottle take painkiller

Elderly people are often forgetful and may not remember to take their medications on time. There are a few things you can do to help encourage an elderly person to double-check their medication schedule.

First, make sure that the elderly person knows the date, time, and dosage of their medications. If possible, have a copy of the medication schedule handy so that the elderly person can easily reference it.

Second, be alert if the elderly person seems to be forgetting to take their medications. If you notice that the elderly person is not taking their medications as scheduled, talk to them about why they might have forgotten and suggest ways that they can improve their medication adherence.

Finally, keep a close eye on the elderly person’s health and behavior while they are taking their medications. If there is any change in their health or behavior that suggests they might not be taking their medications as prescribed, contact their doctor or pharmacist immediately.