Are there elderly people who take regular medicines at home? 5 things to pay attention to
Diabetes, cataracts, high blood pressure, arthritis and mental problems can appear in old age and advice from a psychiatrist should be sought.
Keep medicines in a safe place, make a list of medicines, double check to avoid taking the wrong medicines and follow the doctor's instructions.
With increasing age, various diseases take hold in the body. The body becomes weak. Problems such as diabetes, cataracts, high blood pressure, hearing loss, heart disease, joint pain and arthritis can appear. Similarly, mental problems such as depression, dementia, sleep problems, etc. can appear.
Old age is a stage of life. There is a possibility of getting diseases in this state. Many things have been neglected due to urbanization. In such a situation, people do not respond properly to the elderly and try to stay away from them.
Due to this, the elderly also fall into depression. In old age, advice from a psychiatrist should be sought so that these diseases do not harm the body. Then the long list of medications begins. Sometimes some medications have to be taken for life. However, with advancing age, caution should be exercised when taking medications, otherwise they may cause harm instead of benefit. According to many studies, many people over the age of 65 are dependent on medications. Therefore, medication management is very important.
How to pay attention to the elderly's medications?
1. Keep all medications and vitamins in one place
If the medications are kept in different places, it is much easier for the elderly in the house to keep them in one place. Sometimes there may be no other members in the house, in which case the elderly can take the medication themselves. However, if the medications are kept in different places, the elderly may forget to take some medications.
For example, some people keep some pills in the kitchen, while others keep them by the bed or in other places. But many medications have to be taken at the same time. In such a situation, they may be missed due to the medications being kept in different places. Which may reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Therefore, it is important to understand well with the doctor which medicine to take and when. Negligence in time or dosage can put you at greater risk. If the elderly take their own medication, set a reminder on their mobile phone.
2. Keep the medication in a safe place
In general, medications should be stored in a cool and dry place. This means that they should be stored carefully. Otherwise, cold and sunlight can reduce the effectiveness of the medication. Medications should be stored out of reach of children or pets. Follow the doctor's or pharmacist's instructions for medications that need to be stored in a special place.
3. Create and maintain a medication list
To avoid negative drug interactions, it is important for the elderly to know what regular medications they are taking. Therefore, an up-to-date list of their medications, vitamins, and supplements should be kept.
The name of the medication should be kept, and the condition it is used for. It is helpful to note how many times a day they take the medication or use it. It is important to keep track of whether the elderly are taking each medication prescribed by the doctor correctly.
It is important to know whether the medication is for short-term or long-term use. You should also pay attention to the expiration date of the medication and to ensure that the elderly do not take any medication repeatedly.
4. Double-check to avoid taking the wrong medication
Some elderly people are taking multiple medications, vitamins, or supplements. In such cases, you should be careful not to take any other wrong medication. Use an online drug interaction checker to avoid any interactions with your doctor or pharmacist.
5. Make sure the medication instructions are clear
It is important to follow the doctor's instructions with the medication. If this is not followed, the medication may not work properly. Therefore, it is important to follow what the doctor says. This reduces the risk of negative drug interactions and side effects.
Elderly people should understand which medications are safe to take at the same time. Some medications need to be taken with food before taking them, while others need to be taken on an empty stomach. If there is any uncertainty, you should seek clarification and detailed instructions from your doctor.
