Always be sure that the person in your care takes the medication exactly as prescribed. Keep an accurate list of these medications and when they should be taken.
Never make any changes to these medications without talking to the doctor or specialist first. However, because everyone's treatment needs are different, the specialist may want to try changing the amount or timing of drugs, within certain limits. If you are worried or have any questions, don't be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
People who have serious health problems often take a large number of medications at many different times of the day. It is essential to have a careful system for keeping track of medications:
- when medications should be given
- how they should be given
- when they were actually given
I agree about the list of Meds, but I also have a description of the medicine after it. Like: large gold round pill, small blue oval, tiny blue square pill, green and brown capsule. This helps if pills are spilled and need to be put back in the weekly pillbox. It also helps my mother keep track of what she is getting. She wants to be more resposible with her meds, but gets to confused to put them in the box. She always wants to know what she is taking and why, so I also put the use for the meds on the chart. It makes her feel really secure and we keep copies for Dr. visits and visiting nurses.
We've made a paper medication record or log showing the medications, doseage, when to take them, simple description of what they're for, and columns for each day of the week, so we could check off when we gave each dose. One page equals one week. We made a table in Word or in Excel on the computer, left a few spaces blank to handwrite additions, and updated it as needed over time, especially after coming home from a hospitalization. We keep it on a clipboard and take it with us every time we go to the doctor, E.R., or hospital. Healthcare providers love it. It's allowed us to have peace of mind when caring for my mother, especially during times of Mom's confusion, anxiety and complicated home medication regimens. After a while, the LOG acts like a diary when looking back at "what antibiotic did she get?", or "what was her insulin dose then?" We've picked up slight mistakes in dosing, we've used it compulsively when going into the hospital, so we can check that she is getting the right meds at the right dosages. It's helped us figure out why mom got more confused suddenly in the hospital (medication error there) and, together with her diabetes blood sugar record, which meds needed adjustment by her doctor. It has been soooo helpful!
We've made a paper medication record or log showing the medications, doseage, when to take them, simple description of what they're for, and columns for each day of the week, so we could check off when we gave each dose. One page equals one week. We made a table in Word or in Excel on the computer, left a few spaces blank to handwrite additions, and updated it as needed over time, especially after coming home from a hospitalization. We keep it on a clipboard and take it with us every time we go to the doctor, E.R., or hospital. Healthcare providers love it. It's allowed us to have peace of mind when caring for my mother, especially during times of Mom's confusion, anxiety and complicated home medication regimens. After a while, the LOG acts like a diary when looking back at "what antibiotic did she get?", or "what was her insulin dose then?" We've picked up slight mistakes in dosing, we've used it compulsively when going into the hospital, so we can check that she is getting the right meds at the right dosages. It's helped us figure out why mom got more confused suddenly in the hospital (medication error there) and, together with her diabetes blood sugar record, which meds needed adjustment by her doctor. It has been soooo helpful!
Check your local pharmacies for free delivery service. We are a pharmacy in Biloxi, MS that offers free delivery service to seniors and family members in the six Southern counties of Mississippi to help with your care. Other cities and states may have pharmacies that offer similar services. Take the worry out of getting to the pharmacy and have it delivered.
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