4 Medication Safety Tips for Caregivers and Patients
According to a 2021 data brief from the KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), a non-profit health organization focused on health policy analysis, older adults are more likely to use prescription drugs than other age groups. The research shows that over half (54%) of people age 65 and older say they are taking four or more prescription medications, compared to just one-third (32%) of adults aged 50-64, highlighting the significant increase in medication use as we age.
Chronic health conditions become more common as we get older, treating illnesses like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Additionally, seniors experience multiple chronic conditions simultaneously, leading to the need for a combination of medications being taken at the same time.
The number of multiple medications being used by older adults increases the risk of errors, making drug safety and medication management critical, especially for those adults receiving home care or living in long-term care facilities. One error or medication mix-up can have drastic consequences.
Medication Errors: A Growing Concern for Older Adults
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines a medication error as:
A preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm.
Our bodies react to medications differently as we age. For example, if you're 50 years old and your mom is 78, the same medication can affect each of you differently.
In a 2018 published report in the journal "Drugs & Aging," between 75% and 96% of older adults acknowledge making medication mistakes at least occasionally. Errors can result in serious consequences, ranging from mild side effects to hospitalization, long-term care, and even death.
Common mistakes include taking the wrong medication or dosage or forgetting to take medication altogether. For example, someone with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) can start making mistakes without some help.
Jessica Merrey, Pharm.D., lead ambulatory clinical pharmacy specialist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and certified geriatric pharmacist, says that managing medications can be complicated, particularly if someone takes several prescription drugs that treat different conditions.
When you're using several medications, be proactive. Taking medications as directed by your doctor, getting refills on time, and staying alert to side effects and interactions all help keep you healthy.
Older adults can easily be confused by similar-looking pills or hard-to-read or misleading labels. Additionally, some older adults may experience difficulty with tasks like opening pill bottles or using medication applicators, further increasing the risk of mistakes.
The consequences of medication errors in seniors can be significant. A 2015 study published in the "Journal of the American Geriatrics Society," reports that medication errors are estimated to contribute to over one million emergency department visits and 100,000 hospital admissions annually in the United States alone, not to mention those who then end up needing full-time long-term care in assisted living or a nursing home.
There are some simple but effective medication safety tips for caregivers and care recipients for organizing, storing, and administering pills and tablets.
1. Create a Medication Cheat Sheet and Schedule
If you or a care recipient takes many medications regularly, it's critical to stay as organized as possible to avoid missed or incorrect dosages. However, keeping track of medication schedules and instructions can be difficult to remember. An easy solution is to create a schedule and instruction cheat sheet for all the medications taken regularly.
A pillbox with compartments for each day of the week — and for morning, noon and night if you take medications several times a day — lets you know at a glance whether you've taken your medicines yet.
Merrey suggests asking your pharmacy about available pill organizers. Smartphone or computer-based apps can also be helpful.
Medications not in your pillbox should be kept in their original containers. The labels have important information like the medicine name, dosage, doctor's name, and expiration date. Storage instructions and information on major side effects are also on the label.
In addition to pill organizers, try having a written schedule nearby and alarms set for medications that must be taken at specific times. Caregivers, or even seniors themselves, can easily use the alarm feature on their smartphones to do this.
Consider creating a central, laminated medication cheat sheet posted on a refrigerator. The sheet should include the important details of each medicine, including name, appearance, side effects, and how to take it (with water, with food, etc.).
2. Stick to One Pharmacy
A helpful medication safety tip for caregivers and care recipients is to stick to one pharmacy to fill prescriptions. Using one pharmacy streamlines filling and refilling prescriptions and reduces errors from juggling multiple pharmacies and pharmacists.
Using one pharmacy keeps your medication records in one place, so the pharmacist can evaluate your risk and work with your doctor to avoid potential problems.
You'll also have just one pharmacist to call to get medication questions answered.
3. Store Medicine Securely and Safely
Proper storage is a big part of medicine safety. Although many people keep medications in the bathroom, storing them in a cool, dry place is best. Patients and caregivers should consider using a dry cabinet or drawer for this purpose.
Keeping medications secure is also crucial—store prescriptions in a safe, hidden location. This prevents others from accidentally taking someone's medication and helps caregivers prevent care recipients, especially those with memory loss, from overmedicating.
4. Never Risk Unmarked Pills
Older adults and caregivers who manage multiple prescriptions might find an unmarked or unknown pill and try to identify it themselves. However, you should never try to identify unmarked pills, as they could easily be misidentified. All FDA-approved pills and tablets require an imprint, allowing people to look up unknown medication via the FDA's online pill finder to ensure the medication is safe.
Lots of Meds - Several Doctors
Older adults, family members, and caregivers should maintain a detailed list of medications, doses, the reason the medication is being prescribed, and by which doctor.
Don't assume all of your physicians and clinicians know about all of your medications.
Merrey says that having a detailed list is essential. Everyone involved with an individual's healthcare should know all the medications, conditions, and doctors so mistakes are not made.
It can also help your doctor look for the sources of any side effects or interactions you may be having.
Even minor mistakes can have drastic consequences for an older adult. If a loved one is having issues taking their medications and they are not being supervised and receiving proper care services at home, perhaps a facility, like assisted living, might be a better option.
However, experienced caregivers are often able to ensure that an older adult not only receives the proper care but also takes medications as instructed.
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