One thing that seems to be working fine for us is to crush the medication up and offer in foods like Icecream, yogurt, applesauce etc.

Make sure you ask your doctor if it is safe to crush the medications.  Some medications can not be crushed.

Sometimes, it works when we make it lke a game and I take my vitamins with my Mom when I am there.  It's never easy however, and I'm hoping to read posts that can help us out, too.  The problem with crushing them into food is that then, you have to be on top of them to make sure they eat it all!  Good luck..I'll be watching for more ideas.

 Sometimes you have to fib a little. Since my mother has anxiety problems, I tell her the pill is for her nerves, even if the medication is for her blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. Or say it is a vitamin to make her stronger. Some medication they are more receptive to or can understand better.

We have tried several different things.  I use the "gummy" vitamins.  She wouldn't eat them at first because the texture was strange to her but will ususlly take them now.  I put them on her plate with lunch and tell her they are for after she eats...she will eat them as soon as she thinks I am not watching.  I give her "chocolate" calcium che candies the same way.

When we had to give an antibiotic she wouldn't take it because she said it was "too small" to be any good.  We obtained some empty gelcaps from the pharmacy and put the pills in these and she took these larger (and therefor obviously more useful) medications.

Nothing works every time so we just try to remain flexible.  At least she doesn't remember a "failed attempt" so I can come back 5 minutes later and try again.

your'e very creative and you really have to be cause they can be so tricky themselves. My mom cracks me up sometimes ,she's always had a sense of humor but it's more now with the alzheimers.

My father who is 89 and has alzheimer's sometimes gets in confused paranoid state and he doesn't trust my Mom or myself his daughter to take his meds. so first we try to have him go in another room like a whole new setting, that helps sometimes. and then other times my Mom will say you want your blood test to be right you don't want to keep going back to having your blood tested. He is on Warfarin to regulate his blood for clots. that works sometimes. also just being nice but firm saying you have to take this so you can think well and have a good life. we try not to rationalize it all. He starts asking who gave this to me I want to talk to my dr. what is it? what is it for? so we also removed all other medicines away when we give it to him. I  label three baggies for breakfast, lunch and evening with his name the day, the date, and breakfast, lunch and evening. He likes his name on it. I also put a calendar near by so he can make sure it is that day and date. He might not always understand but it gives him control.  we also compliment him when he takes it and tell him that's wonderful you will be healthy. I hold his hand or pat his arm afterwards and say thank-you like it's for us so we don't have to worry about him. sometimes it takes awhile and we will say if you were in a hospital or a nurse came they would just make you take it. I always ask him do you trust me? and that way he realizes we love him and we would not harm him. Good luck ! it's not easy we know! Especially my Mom!

My mother-in-law has a tendency to get obsessive about different things.  For a while it was her medication.  We had to keep her medication hidden because she was unable to keep track of the day of the week or she would take multiple days medications on one day.   Although we had a home health care worker who gave her her medication each day for about a month each night she would call me and tell me that she had not had her medication, I would go over to her house and show her in the log book that yes she had her medication.   She would not believe me that she had taken them and thought the book was wrong.   Later, I started having the home health care worker have my mother-in-law sign the log book when she got her medication.    She would still call me each evening stating that she had not had her medication, but then I was able to show her her signature in the log book that had indeed had the medication.  This went on for a couple more weeks, each night the same routine, until she moved on to obsessing about something else.  

Before my father passed we used a Weekly Medication Chart to get him to stay on track with his meds. My mom got it online from easyminders.com the list had room for 5 or 6 meds on one side and personal info on the other. originally he would use the chart to put the right pills in a cup then mark them on the chart when he took them. It gave him a sense of control and when home health aids were in they could see the meds were taken. later after my mother started having her own health issues I got one for her as well. She didn't have dementia but it helped keep her and him on track even when he couldn't didn't understand anymore. My mother continues to use her lists as a simple reminder and quick reference. I think the price was pretty reasonable as well.

 Thank you so much, 'An Hour 4 Me' for recommending easyminders.com. I checked it out and placed an order for one of the many medication charts available. My mother has her medication dispensed to her since she has dementia. Even though she won't keep accurate records, the chart will give her a sense of control, plus she always loved keeping records and logs of EVERYTHING. Thanks again!

 bheaney, your mother-in-law sounds exactly like my mother with the obsessiveness, forgetfulness and not believing the records. Having her signature on the log book is a great idea. Thanks for the great tip!

You are most welcome. My father wouldn't get caught dead using any thing that reminded him of his limitations but these things he loved.  I do think a sense of control helps. It's not always convienent for us as caregivers but I think it makes them feel a little better. I personally use the little grocery kit for my shopping to stay on budget. Mom uses the regular one since its easier to read.

RITUAL and REWARD.

meds for my mother are only given twice a day, which makes it easier. even so -

they are ALWAYS given at the same time.
they are ALWAYS given in the same place.

RIGHT BEFORE BREAKFAST, at the table, with the day's paper neatly folded, her upper denture soaking in its cup, and her breakfast WAITING to be served, the pills are ALWAYS presented to her in a small clear glass cup (size of a shot glass,) and she puts them into her mouth herself. ( she often likes to count them etc., to make sure they have not been changed.) along with the meds she is presented a small clear glass with just enough water to take the pills. this way, she controls the actual "taking" of the pills, and is not confronted with more water than she can drink!

ALSO, taking her pills is a REQUIREMENT before she can have: her upper denture, her morning tea, her breakfast, or the newspaper...

RIGHT BEFORE BED, as she sits in her living room chair, the tv is turned OFF (right before the news,) her dentures are taken for cleaning, she is informed her pajamas are laid out, and once again, the pills are presented in "a small clear glass with just enough water to take the pills." again, this way, she controls the actual "taking" of the pills, and is not confronted with more water than she can drink!

taking the pills is a REQUIREMENT before the news is turned back on, AND before she is permitted to go to bed!

sometimes, she actually ASKS for her pills!

hope this helps somebody...