When was the last time you looked at Mom or Dad's medicine cabinet? Does he or she use a weekly pill dispenser? Have you checked to see how many pills your parent is supposed to take on a daily basis? If you haven't, you're likely to be surprised.
Many individuals, but most often seniors, are prescribed at least three to four medications to take on a daily basis. They may run the gamut from antihypertensives to cardiac or diabetic medications to minerals and vitamins.
Mixing drugs can be harmful in the least and deadly at the worst. Make sure you and your parent know what each drug, medication or vitamin he is taking does, how it works and how they interact with each other.
Learn properly oversee medication for an elderly parent to make sure interactions don't occur and cause more problems for your parent's health.
Instructions
1. Make a list of every medication your parent is taking. Also write down nonprescription items such as vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements. If your parent takes an occasional over the counter (OTC) allergy or cold medicine, write that down, too. The list should contain the name of the medication or drug, it's current dosage and how many times a day the medication is taken.
2. Take the list of medications (including those over the counter) to each of your parent's doctors or other health care providers. Many times, one doctor is unaware of what another doctor has prescribed for your parent. Make sure every doctor, dentist and pharmacy that your parent uses has a copy of this list of medications.
3. Visit the doctor with your parent, if possible, or designate a friend, sibling or other family member to go along. Make sure that if any meds or dosages are changed, that your parent's other doctors or health care providers are also advised of the change(s).
4. Educate yourself and your parent about what prescribed medications are supposed to do. How do they work? What should he avoid while taking such medications? For example, some medications can't be taken with grapefruit juice or milk. Always ask the doctor or pharmacist about interactions with current medications.
5. Learn the basics about the prescription and over-the-counter medications and drugs in your parent's medicine cabinet. Learn the generic name and the trade name of pills. What are side effects of any particular medication? Pharmacies are more than happy to provide such information to customers and consumers.
Tags: your parent, care providers, daily basis, health care, health care providers