Things Family Members Can Do To Help With Medications

There are a number of things family members can do to help manage a loved ones medication:

* Make a list of medicines prescribed and all supplements being taken..  Give this list to the doctor and pharmacist and have one on hand for emergencies.

*  Use the same pharmacy to fill all prescriptions.  Pharmacies keep a record of your prescribed drugs and

will  verity your doctor's instructions.  They will also tell you if foods or over the counter supplements will

interact with a prescription.

*  Dispense pills in a daily pill organizer box ie. mediset..  Have a family member be responsible to call or physically monitor the taking of medications.

Family members who live long distances from their elders have available to them new technology in medication monitoring. For instance alarms for pill boxes, watch alarms, medical alarm bands and necklaces that ring a reminder.  There are also computerized pill box dispensers that ring a designated number if the pills have not been taken. In addition Home Care Agencies offer a variety of service options in helping families care for and properly dispense medication to their elder parents.

Overmedication or taking medication incorrectly may lead to early mental confusion and decline in health in seniors. "If medication problems were ranked as a disease in cause of death it would be the 5th leading cause in the Unite States." (from article on Long Term Lining)