What is Medication Management?
Medication management is the process of ensuring the medications prescribed for a patient are taken properly and achieving their planned, therapeutic outcome.
A critical aspect of successful medication management is medication adherence which means taking the right dose, at the right time, in the right way and frequency.
Many patients do not follow health-care provider instructions on how to take medications for various reasons. Such as, not understanding the directions, forgetfulness, multiple medications with different regimens, unpleasant side effects or the medication doesn’t seem to be working.
Importance of Medication Management?
The results of this are poor health outcomes, increased doctor visits, potential overdoses, and increased readmissions to the hospital, particularly for people with chronic conditions.
Prolonged illness can weaken immune systems and physical strength, causing additional illness or falls. And poor outcomes can land patients back in the hospital or on a revolving door of doctor visits.
Your pharmacist is an expert in medications, find one that you trust to work with you and your doctor on how best to take your medications.
Tips For Managing Medications:
Active Ways To Stay On Top Of Your Medications
Keep Your Medications Safe
Article submitted by Oaklawn Pharmacy. To learn more about Med Packs call 214-954-7389 or visit www.oaklawnpharmacy.com
The aging process often begins subtly, with gradual changes that seem manageable. One day, your parent is fully independent, taking care of daily tasks without issue. Then, suddenly, it feels as though the aging process accelerates, bringing new challenges all at once. This rapid shift can be difficult for family members, especially if they haven't planned ahead.Why Aging Can Seem to Happen SuddenlyWhile aging typically unfolds slowly, research suggests it doesnt always progress in a straight line. A study published in Nature Aging found that aging tends to occur in bursts, where rapid changes in areas like metabolism, immune health, and muscle strength happen. These bursts often occur around the age of 60, potentially leading to abrupt physical declines (SciTech Daily)(AARP).If you or your loved one wait too long to prepare, you may find yourselves scrambling to deal with the sudden onset of new health challenges. This lack of preparation often leaves caregivers feeling overwhelmed, under-equipped, and burned out.The Pitfalls of Delaying PreparationMany families delay planning for their parents aging, assuming they'll manage when the time comes. Others might avoid the topic altogether because it can be emotionally challenging to discuss. Unfortunately, this wait-and-see approach often leads to caregiver burnout and strained relationships, as families are forced to juggle urgent medical needs, emotional stress, and time-consuming responsibilities without a solid plan in place.If youre struggling to discuss getting help with your aging parent, check out some of our tips here. Remember, asking for assistance during the aging process doesnt mean youre powerless!How Naborforce Can Help You Plan AheadRather than waiting for a health crisis, Naborforce provides consistent support for families throughout the aging journey. As seniors age, they often need help with simple taskslike grocery shopping or getting to appointmentsthat can quickly become time-consuming for loved ones. With Naborforce, you can arrange for a friendly Nabor to assist, allowing your parent to stay independent longer while giving you peace of mind.By building a relationship with Naborforce early, your parent will already be accustomed to receiving help. When aging accelerates, youll have a reliable support system in placesomeone familiar with your parent who can step in to help with everyday tasks. This helps ease your parents transition while giving you the time and space to focus on your own responsibilities.The Importance of Having a PlanThe key to supporting your parent as they age is to start planning before their needs become urgent. With Naborforce, you can establish a flexible plan that evolves as your parents needs change. Whether its an occasional visit or regular check-ins, Naborforce can tailor its services to fit your schedule and your parents preferences. By starting early, you ensure that you and your parent have the right support in place before bigger challenges arise.Naborforce is just one of many resources available to help with the aging process. Other tools include financial planning, setting up a trust and estate plan, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, using technology designed for senior living, and understanding the care continuum.Getting Started with NaborforceIts easy to get started with Naborforce. You can customize the level of support you need, from occasional assistance to more regular visits. Take the proactive step of setting up care before it becomes urgent, so your parent can stay comfortable, independent, and supported as they age.A Helping Hand for Older Adults - Naborforce 844-696-2267 Were Naborforce. We match older adults who need a little help and kindness with Nabors eager to provide it, strengthening the communities we serve.Everyone can use a little help. Help around the house. Help running errands. Help preparing a meal. Help by just being a friend! Our goal is to promote joyous and independent aging and living while providing peace of mind to families.
As more American families face the reality of aging, in-home care is becoming a preferred option. A recent AARP survey shows that over half of Americans aged 50 and above plan to remain in their homes as they age, and for good reasons. Staying at home offers comfort, familiarity, and with proper planning, can also be more cost-effective while promoting longer independence for elderly parents.With the continuous rise in healthcare and long-term care costs, having early and honest financial discussions is key.If your loved one is thinking about aging at home, weve created this guide with useful tips to help support senior independence while easing the financial burden.Here are steps to ensure your parents or loved ones age safely and comfortably at home.1. Start Financial Discussions EarlyWhile it can be uncomfortable to talk about finances with aging parents, its a vital conversation to have. Begin by reviewing their current financial situation, including assets, debts, and regular expenses. Also, look into possible income sources such as:PensionsSocial SecurityRetirement savings (401k, investments)Being open helps you understand your parents financial landscape while making them feel supported. Approach this conversation with compassion, emphasizing how you aim to maintain their quality of life while preparing for the future.(Need tips on convincing an aging parent to accept help? Check out our blog on how to navigate these conversations.)2. Understand the Costs of Aging at HomeAccording to the National Council for Aging, the average monthly cost of a senior care facility ranges between $4,500 and $5,300, a significant financial strain for many families. Aging at home can be more affordable, but it's essential to account for associated expenses.One of the hidden costs of aging in place is home maintenance and modifications, which can account for up to 52% of out-of-pocket expenses, according to a 2021 AARP study. Personal care services and medical staff, if needed, can also add to these expenses. For a detailed breakdown of long-term care costs, including potential surprises for families dealing with conditions like dementia, check out this Wall Street Journal article.3. Explore Long-Term Care InsuranceWith rising care costs, long-term care insurance can help cover expenses for in-home care, nursing, or assisted living. The earlier you invest in a policy, the more affordable the premiums.However, long-term care insurance may not be suitable for everyone. It can be pricey and may not cover all types of care. For more information, AARPs guide on hybrid policies, which combine life insurance and long-term care benefits, is a good resource.4. Plan for Home Modifications and SafetyTo keep your parents safe at home, certain home modifications, such as installing grab bars, ramps, or stairlifts, might be necessary. These changes can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars depending on your loved ones health needs.(Looking for affordable ways to enhance home safety? See Naborforces top 10 safety tips for under $10.)In addition to modifications, budgeting for adaptive equipment or medical technology like alert systems is crucial. These devices help ensure that your parents can access help quickly, contributing to their independence and peace of mind.5. Managing In-Home CareIf in-home care is required, costs will vary depending on the level of assistance needed. While part-time help from a home health aide may suffice initially, your parent may eventually need full-time or 24-hour care, which can cost over $100,000 per year.Before reaching that point, services like Naborforce can offer interim support, providing help with small tasks like running errands or getting to appointments. This can extend your parents independence and delay the need for full-time care.6. Know About Medicare, Medicaid, and Other ResourcesIts essential to know what benefits your parents may qualify for. While Medicare does not cover long-term care, it can provide short-term in-home care under certain conditions, such as after a hospital stay. Medicaid, on the other hand, covers long-term care but is means-tested, so eligibility will depend on a careful review of their financial standing.You should also explore local and national programs, including veterans benefits or state assistance programs, which can help offset the cost of aging in place. In some cases, if you become a caregiver for your loved one, you may be eligible for caregiver payments, depending on your states regulations.ConclusionHelping your parents age at home requires thoughtful financial planning, including income assessments, long-term care options, and preparing for unexpected medical needs. Starting early and maintaining open communication can make the process smoother, providing your loved ones with the comfort and security of aging in their own home. And remember, whenever you need an extra hand, Naborforce is here to help!A Helping Hand for Older Adults - Naborforce 844-696-2267 Were Naborforce. We match older adults who need a little help and kindness with Nabors eager to provide it, strengthening the communities we serve.Everyone can use a little help. Help around the house. Help running errands. Help preparing a meal. Help by just being a friend! Our goal is to promote joyous and independent aging and living while providing peace of mind to families.What is Naborforce?Naborforce is a service designed to help seniors maintain their independence by connecting them with "Nabors"trusted community members who assist with everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, transportation to appointments, light household chores, or simply providing companionship. By offering flexible, non-medical support, Naborforce helps seniors age in place while giving families peace of mind. It's a great option for those who want to delay the need for full-time in-home care, ensuring that older adults can continue living comfortably and safely at home with just the right amount of help!Check out our page at www.naborforce.com
The typical person in their later sixties and older takes several medications for chronic conditions. These may be drugs to regulate blood sugar, thyroid, blood pressure, cholesterol, allergies, mood, or any of hundreds of other mild-to-serious conditions. Your comprehensive blood panel is your and your doctor's way of monitoring the effect of the drugs prescribed, as well as whether they're working or not or if they may be interacting with one another. And, besides, you're changing. How do we know you're changing? You're aging. Your liver and kidneys break down and eliminate drugs from your body, and your liver and kidneys are aging. You may lose muscle and gain fat, affecting how drugs work. All of this can complicate the effectiveness of meds and, especially important, create harmful side effects. So, consider these medication tips after you see your doctor. 1. Take Medicine as Prescribed with Regular Discussions with Your Health Care Provider On that all-important visit with your doctor, be involved. The doctor or nurse should ask you if your meds have changed or if you've stopped or started either prescribed medicine or over-the-counter drugs or supplements. They all count! If you're taking something prescribed by another doctor that's not on your primary's list speak up. Take only prescription meds your health care provider has prescribed. None of this, "Here, try one of mine" from your golf partner. Taking someone else's medicine can be very dangerous. This is particularly true of pain medication, which could worsen your condition or cause addiction. You probably know opioids are highly addictive but are not the only ones. The interaction of drugs is unpredictable. Your doctor has the proper outlook on your entire series of medications. Please don't stop taking or skip prescribed medications because you think you don't need them anymore, feel they've stopped working, or think they're causing a side effect. Consult your doctor about any side effects. Take side effects seriously. In the United States, 125,000 people die annually from incorrectly taking their medications! Talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about ways to help you take the proper dosage on time every time. It's typical to forget to take your meds. But it's not okay. Many antibiotics must be taken after the infection stops or after you stop feeling the symptom. Hence the instructions to take every dose until they're gone. If you're a family member or caregiver reading this, please provide the person under your care with prefilled pillboxes and automated reminders attached to pill bottles, or subscribe to a pill packaging service that sorts, packages, and delivers by individual dose. 2. Store Your Meds Safely and Keep Current Keep all medicine up and away from children, wherever you store them. Around 10,000 children are accidentally poisoned by prescription meds every year, and a child dies every 12 days from such poisoning. If you have questions about safely storing your medicines, contact your pharmacist or health care provider.Store meds in a safe, cool, dry place. A high drawer reserved for medications in a dresser or cabinet is good. Be careful that meds that need to be cooled are stored in the fridge, but give them a shelf where children can't reach them. There will be storage instructions on the bottle. Due to fluctuating heat and humidity, a bathroom medicine cabinet may be the worst place. Even if meds are not expired, improper storage can render them ineffective or unsafe.Remember we talked about how you're changing as you age? So is your medication. If you have an old bottle of aspirin that's been haunting the top shelf of a kitchen cabinet for a couple of decades, don't use it. Some meds lose their effectiveness, but others can degrade into toxicity. Check the expiration dates. There are proper ways to dispose of unused medications. Throwing them in the trash is not one of them. Discarded drugs can end up in the water supply and may be eaten by wildlife or pets. See any disposal instructions that may be on the side of the bottle. Many pharmacies have disposal sites where you can drop the old drugs. You can search for "medication disposal sites" or see the FDA's webpage that instructs you on the options of disposing of meds.3. Be Aware of Potential Medication Interactions and Side Effects, Even Unexpected InteractionsGrapefruit juice is always good for you. Here's something you may need to learn about grapefruit juice. The grapefruit has these beneficial enzymes that naturally protect it from the effects of insects and other harmful stressors. Unfortunately, these same enzymes inhibit the breakdown of certain medications in the human stomach, making some drugs ineffective or even toxic. So, what's good for the grapefruit is only sometimes suitable for the patient. Don't let this stop you from enjoying your morning grapefruit. Ask your doctor because this has been studied, and there's a list of drugs more likely to interact. And we only bring this up to illustrate how seemingly harmless or good-for-you foods and supplements can seriously interact with your medication. Ask your doctor about any potential adverse interactions.Prescription drugs can affect each other dramatically. For example, nitroglycerin, which treats angina, should not be taken with many erectile dysfunction medications, including Viagra and Cialis, because serious interactions can occur. Your pharmacist can also advise you about potential medication interactions and side effects.You may also have a medical condition that makes a particular medication risky. Again, your healthcare provider armed with your health record, a physical exam, and blood work is the best call here. Even herbal supplements you get off the shelf at the grocery store, though you're free to take them without a prescription, can interact. It may surprise you, but 40 percent of the drugs behind the pharmacist's counter are derived from plants used as natural remedies since ancient times. Grapefruit juice is used to prevent gout attacks, for example. Go figure. So, supplements are drugs, too, and they deserve the same caution as prescription meds when mixed with others.Not surprisingly, alcohol is a common offender. The NIH warns that "mixing alcohol with certain medications can cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, drowsiness, fainting, or loss of coordination. It also can put you at risk for internal bleeding, heart problems, and difficulties in breathing." In other words, alcohol, whether it has sedative or stimulant effects on any person, should be considered a drug when taking other medication. If you're experiencing something you suspect is a medical condition, such as memory loss or difficulty, dizziness, or sleepiness, particularly for seniors, the medication may mimic the symptoms. Before you skip or stop taking the meds, consult your doctor. Ask your healthcare provider if any new health problems you are experiencing could be due to your medications at your regular physical. 4. Keep a Medication List There are many good reasons to keep a list of your current medications besides remembering which ones you're taking. Making a list is an excellent excuse to go through your cabinet or drawer and collect all your medicines. You can check duplicates and expired prescriptions (Don't mix expired medications with new ones!), find out if you need to take one you've forgotten about, and add any non-prescription medicine or supplements (including vitamins) you need to update your doctor on.Keep the list with you. And keep it current. Give a copy to a friend or relative for sure your emergency medical contact person in case of emergency and when you're traveling. Note any medicines you're allergic to or have had bad reactions to. Wear a medical alert bracelet for severe medicine needs (like insulin) or allergies. Store your medication list on your cell phone in a notepad app. If you're fortunate enough to have a healthcare provider who has your prescription record online, this can save you a lot of headaches when filling out medical forms even at the dentist. These forms almost always ask for the dosage, too, so those should be included. A medication list should include the following:Your prescription medicine's brand name or generic name.Over-the-counter medication, herbal preparations, and supplements that you take regularly or on occasion.Condition you're treating with the medication.The dosage (for instance, 300 mg).How often do you take it?Anything you're allergic or reactive to.The phone number of your pharmacy.Most people see more than one provider. Even if they don't ask, share your list with each provider and ensure it's updated at each visit. It's okay to suggest it to your provider, and it's essential, and it would be worth scheduling an annual review of medications with your primary care physician.Some meds are expensive, and sometimes there are generic alternatives. It also matters which insurance you use and where the pharmacy might get the medicine. These days, a good pharmacy can check the price of drugs from one provider or another. Using prescription discount cards (they're free) also can get you a surprising discount sometimes. Ask your healthcare provider if there is a less expensive, effective alternative.Also, tell your doctor if the medication doesn't work. If you're taking pain medication, it should lessen the pain. It could be a simple fix. New drugs are being developed all the time. Your primary physician is the one to ask. They may say it's safe to try it. Before you try a new brand-name pharmaceutical, you know the price. A drug that costs two dollars in its generic form may be $600 in its brand version.