Assuming that you work in the pharmacist and your intitle to dispense a medicines,some elderly patients have difficulties with their medication,particularly if they take a large number of medicines.Some group of patients have special needs-special in relation to their use of medication and their understanding of that.They include the elderly and patients with language and communication.Some older people they dont know how to take their medication and also there very forgotten.What can you help to solve this case?
2006-10-18 21:36:20 · 10 answers · asked by sal 2 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
From my own experience of working with the elderly and also explaining different things to them ..............
Hopefully in most cases if they do have that big of a problem with meds then it would be nice if they have somebody with them that you can explain a new medication too as well - then it can be reinforced at home with the person that is taking the med.
If the person is by themselves take the time to really explain the new med and when to take it.
Make sure the bottle is labeled clearly for dosing and timing.
Suggest to them that a date/time pill dispenser might be of use to them if they do have difficulties remembering what pill to take when, if they are taking a lot (their family pharmacist usually has a list of the meds a person is actively taking within their computer systems)
Most times now pharmacist can or at least you can have access to being able to print out info sheets about the meds being dispensed. Print this out for them (maybe just a shortened version). Put on there also dosing time even if you have to write it.
I have found that a lot of times the elderly like more hands on things - if they can read something (ok assuming they can read our language) - they will go over that at a later time to refresh their memory if they have the info. Because sometimes just telling them in a busy store it doesn't always stay. Heck not even in my brain :-)
Just some idea's
2006-10-18 21:59:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of things I can think of that are problematic for the elderly if they are administering their own medications.
1) Sight problems. It really does seem that things are getting smaller and smaller, and many seniors have sight difficulty.
2) Confusion. Many go through periods of not knowing which day it is, 'losing' a day and the like, and will take meds because they thought they forgot them, and in fact are double dosing themselves.
3)Many meds are counter-indicated for vitamins, and vitamin supplements. It can take hours to find out if an illness is actually a side effect.
4)Financial worries sometimes cause the elderly to forego taking the medications as presecrbed at all, and they frequently don't tell anybody. Being respectul o f required privacy,, a social services person, visiting nurse, any of those people who help the elderly remain independent, those guys are worth a dinner or tip for a good restaurant.
Vetting the people hired to assist is crucial. If there is ever a suspicion of any form of abuse, or if things go missing, legal action has to be thorough and swift.
2006-10-18 22:00:41 · answer #2 · answered by 19 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a nurse -and they are many and varied I can tell you! Some cannot see the medications, some are forgetful ( they may even have early onset or undiagnosed dementia) and do not remember which medications they are supposed to take or when, Some people bring all their medications in to hospital when they are to be admitted and we see they are regularly taking medications that are way out of date, or the GP has noted that he stopped but they still have 3 packs so keep taking them as they have miss understood the GP instructions, some medications should have been stopped as they may react with a newer drug they have been prescribed - but if they live alone and are a little muddled often they are still taking them. Many hospital admissions through A and E occur as a result of incorrect medications, ie. too many or too little heart/blood pressure tablets. I even had one elderly gent insist he would be in charge of his own tablets during his overnight stay on our ward - and he took his temazepam (sleeping) tablets instead of his heart tablets
by mistake at 8.30 am and slept until after lunch!
There are pre-packed medication 'cards' available from certain pharmacies, with 'breakfast' 'lunch' and 'supper' labels on them and they should reduce the risk - provided the prescriptions given to the pharmacist are correct and up to date. These can help
2006-10-18 21:39:31 · answer #3 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They need a pill box with the day on each day. If they have taken it for the day, then it won't be there, and if they forgot, it will be there. I think they probably take too much, but what can you do, elderly people have a lot of health issues when they get old. You just wonder what would happen if they did not take it all, maybe they would feel better?? I am not talking about the necessary ones, like heart and such, but just to analyze if they need all of them.
2006-10-18 21:41:34 · answer #4 · answered by shardf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remembering to take them - right meds, right dose, right time
Being able to read the labels
Being able to open the container(s)
Mixing them up and taking more or less than they are supposed to have
Remembering to get repeat prescriptions as necessary
Remembering to have ALL the drugs reviewed periodically
Understanding possible side-effects
Awareness of possible interactions
Being able to swallow difficult ones (e.g. size, shape or texture etc)
Having a caring personal carer would be great to ensure that taking meds is as trouble-free as possible.
Little boxes with the day/time on them can do a lot to help but some people may even forget those, then perhaps take too many later on...
2006-10-19 08:46:22 · answer #5 · answered by Rozzy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A tablet dispenser with the days of the week displayed on each compartment helps a lot. Some of the dispensers divide the day into three or four separate compartments if a patient takes more than one dose per day. It's an invaluable device that not only reminds the patient when to take their tablets, but also indicates whether they've forgotten a dosage.
2006-10-18 21:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Mrs B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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If you go to the doctor to talk about the issue, you’re likely to get put on one or more of the popular medications used to treat the condition. While they can be effective (temporarily), these medications come with a raft of side effects, some of which are decidedly unpleasant. Even worse, these medications aren’t really a cure, they’re more like a temporary workaround.
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2016-02-15 18:21:08 · answer #7 · answered by Paola 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would imagine it depends on the individual.... some younger people probably have problems too. If a person is like this I guess they should be getting support at home to help them. Other then that what can you do
2006-10-18 21:41:54 · answer #8 · answered by Moth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1
2017-03-01 07:32:26 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just use a dossett box,solves alot of problems.
2006-10-18 21:51:17 · answer #10 · answered by candyfloss 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋