Those who require memory care in New Braunfels, TX will be pleased to know that these communities employ the following six procedures to help residents with their medication management.
Establish a Medicine Routine
Community caretakers will work closely with pharmacists and physicians to determine the manner in which every medication must be administered, and will then establish a routine which will ensure it is taken at the right times. For example, while some medicine must be taken in the morning with breakfast, others should be taken in the evening during or after supper. A pill organizer is the best way to ensure the dosages are not missed or taken in excess.
Administer the Medicine in the Proper Manner
Different residents may require their medication to be administered in distinct ways. For instance, those with Alzheimer’s might find swallowing to be tedious, which means caretakers might have to administer it by pill crushing or in liquid form.
Utilizing Safe Storage
An experienced caretaker knows that leaving medications out in the open where they are easily accessible can be hazardous, especially for residents who have dementia or visiting grandchildren who might confuse it for candy. This is why medications should always be kept inside locked cabinets, which will minimize the likelihood of an overdose. The medication supply will also be periodically inspected to ensure any expired pills are discarded.
Pre-sort Medication Weekly
Pre-sorting medication on a weekly basis will always ensure you have what you need when you need it. Community caretakers accomplish this by using pill organizers that feature sufficient compartments for each dose they want to administer daily. It isn’t unusual for some pill organizers to have more than twenty five compartments which mean you’ll be able to administer multiple doses daily for at least seven days before having to refill them. In the event that pills must be split, it is best to do this advance and include the halves within the compartments of the pill organizer.
Monitor for Adverse Drug Reactions
It isn’t unusual for those over the age of sixty five to be taking multiple medications simultaneously. However, this also increases the possibility of an adverse drug reaction. It is the responsibility of caretakers to thoroughly monitor these different medicines to ensure they aren’t causing negative reactions, and one of the simplest ways to do this is through the usage of the online medication interaction checker. If an adverse interaction is discovered, immediately contact a doctor or pharmacist for recommendations.
Plan Medication Refills in Advance
Eventually the medication will run out and have to be refilled. Because these medications are often crucial to a patient’s wellbeing, the caretaker should plan their refills in advance otherwise the patient might miss dosages. One of the best solutions is to ask the physician if they can prescribe a ninety day supply via mail order. When done in this way, the medicine will be distributed by mail and you’ll only have to place your re-order every three months. Pharmacies also provide automatic refills.
