Good Info- Medication Management

Why is Medication Management Important?

Every year, one in three adults aged 65+ has one or more harmful reactions to a medication, according to the American Geriatrics Society.

Why? Older adults are more likely to take multiple medications for multiple conditions—all at the same time. This can be confusing and lead to harmful interactions. Also, many seniors who live on a fixed income have trouble paying for all of their medicines, making it difficult to stay on track.

If you are a caregiver for an individual taking one or more medications, it’s important to manage them wisely to stay healthy and safe. Here are 6 tips to keep in mind:

7 Key Tips for Medication Management:

1. Be informed about all the medications your loved one is taking.

Medication	Dosage	Prescribing Physician	Date prescribed	Color size and shape of pill	What's it for	Special instructions
1.XXX
2. XXX

All drugs are potentially harmful—whether they’re prescription medicines or over-the-counter products such as herbals, supplements, vitamins, minerals, antacids, sleep aids, and laxatives. Many care receivers take several medications and often see more than one doctor. Keep an up-to-date list of all medications. Share it with your doctor and pharmacist and have them review it for potential drug interactions. Keep the list current and take it with you to all doctor appointments. This helps avoid the care receiver being given a new drug that does the same thing as an existing medication and helps prevent potential drug interactions.

Drug interactions can:

Make people sick.

Cause symptoms that are mistaken for a new illness.

Increase or decrease the effectiveness of medicines being taken.

 
The likelihood of drug interactions happening increases with the number of medications being taken. Ask the doctor to review prescription dosages at least once a year.

So how do I keep all of this information together??

Try using a chart (like the one above) to organize medications in one easy list to give to your doctor and pharmacist. It is also a good idea to list any drugs the care receiver is allergic to or has had problems taking in the past.

2. Use one pharmacy and talk to your pharmacist often.

Your pharmacist is a great resource. He or she can help you keep track of your medications and check for drug interactions among them. Ask your pharmacist questions about your medications. If your pharmacist is busy, schedule a time to come back when it’s less busy.

3. Understand and pay attention to possible side effects.

Some medications can cause troublesome side effects, especially in older adults. Examples include dizziness and drowsiness that could lead to a fall; stomach upset, diarrhea, or constipation; blurred vision; dry mouth; and fatigue/lack of energy. Know what to expect, how long the side effects may last, what to do when they occur, and when to contact your doctor. In some cases, your doctor may tell you to stop taking the medication, but never stop taking a medication without first speaking with you doctor.

4. Store your medicines safely.

Medications should be stored in a cool, dry, dark location. Humidity in the bathroom can alter a medication’s effectiveness. Keep medicines where you’re likely to see them every day, and link taking them with other daily activities like eating or brushing your teeth. Go through your medicine cabinet regularly and discard any expired medications. Get more Tips on Safe Storage and Disposal of Your Prescription Medicines from the National Council on Patient Information and Education.

5. Take your medication as prescribed.

Medication adherence, as prescribed by your doctor, is important for good health. Make sure you understand how to take each medication safely.

6. Manage your medications.

An important part of managing medications is helping remember what to take and when. Making a chart can be a useful tool. Use the chart below to write down the day and time each medicine should be given.

Medication Schedule
	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
8:00 am
Noon
6:00 pm
Before bed
During the night

 

7. Find help paying for medicine.

Managing medications can be difficult when the cost of your drugs is high. Here are 5 tips if you are having trouble paying for your prescriptions.

·      Talk to your doctor: Physicians will know whether there are comparable, less expensive drugs (e.g., generics) that may be available to you. Some may even be able to provide free samples of medications while you seek other coverage options. Doctors also can request an exception to ask your plan to cover the medication, or to pay at a lower tier.

·      See if you qualify for extra help: The Medicare Part D program has a subsidy called Extra Help that assists people with limited income and resources with paying for their drugs. If you get Extra Help, you’ll save money on your drug plan premium, deductible, and at the pharmacy—with prescriptions costing between $1.15 and $6.60.

·      Check with your state: About half of the states have State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs (SPAPs) to help people with limited incomes pay for their prescriptions.

·      Find help from drug manufacturers: Patient Assistance Programs, or PAPs, are programs offered by drug companies to help people pay for their drugs. Through these programs, many drug manufacturers offer the drugs they make for free, or at a discount. NCOA’s BenefitsCheckUp® screening tool can help you see whether you can get help from a PAP

·      Don’t forget Open Enrollment: Every year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, people with Medicare can switch their prescription drug plans for the following year. If you’re having trouble with your drug costs, it’s a good idea to compare plans to see if there’s a more affordable option. You can go online at any time to compare plans using the Medicare Plan Finder, or you can get personalized help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Every state has a SHIP that offers free, objective, and personalized information to people with Medicare.

See more at:

 http://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/benefits-access/5-ways-to-save.html#sthash.y9jLpzVj.dpuf

http://www.ncoa.org/improve-health/community-education/why-managing-your-medicine.html

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Caregivers, do you have any specific questions pertaining to this blog?
We are here to help you! If you have any further questions for our experts, please post them in the comment box below or email them to asu.ask.an.ot@gmail.com. Questions are reviewed and answered weekly. Each expert is a registered and licensed occupational therapist. Visit ASK an OT's first blog post to read more about our experts, Dr. Susan Philhower Denham Ed.D, OTR/L, CHT and Dr. Jewell J. Dickson, OTD, MPH, OTR/L, ATP.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this blog is intended for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, substitute for medical advice, nor is it a referral for occupational therapy services. You should consult a physician regarding medical diagnosis or treatment.