Many times, those who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease have other medical conditions as well that need to be managed to help them stay healthy and strong. Having an Alzheimer’s home care agency involved can be a huge help.
In the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, you may be providing care for your loved one from a distance, and/or she may still be living independently in her place of residence, only needing occasional help from you with the things she struggles to manage at this point.
It can be easier to see if she isn’t paying her bills or if she’s struggling to remember to let the dog back in after she let it out, but how do you help her stay on top of her medication needs?
Medication Management is More Important Than Ever
Because health conditions like high blood pressure or elevated glucose levels can speed up the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, keeping them managed is more important than ever to give your loved one as long a time as possible to remain connected to the present and enjoy the world around her.
Five Steps for Managing Your Loved One’s Medication
- Find out what medications she takes. If you aren’t sure, make sure to find out what medications your loved one needs to take and when. Looking in her medicine cabinet can help you find the answer. Also, check with her doctor to confirm that what is in her medicine cabinet is what she’s supposed to be taking (and at the right doses) and if anything is missing.
- If possible, have all medications come from the same pharmacy. This will help with pick-up or delivery and also keep one more trained professional in the loop in case anything needs to be addressed. Make sure her pharmacist is aware of her Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- Use a pill dispenser. Once a week, you or another caregiver can fill her pill dispenser so that it’s easier for her to see if she took her medication for the day. If medications have different requirements for taking them (such as one should be taken on an empty stomach and one should be taken with food), find a pill dispenser that has multiple compartments that you can label for each day.
- Set up reminders. They might be a phone call, an alarm on her phone, or a text to remind her about her medication. Remember to list the day (and the time if that’s needed). The reminder should say something equivalent to “It’s time to take your 10 am Tuesday medication.” This will help her know which one to take from the pill dispenser.
- If your loved one struggles or resists medication, find out why. It might be she’s having trouble swallowing, or it makes her feel sick afterward. Knowing the why can help you work with her doctor to find a solution for her.
An Alzheimer’s Home Care Provider Can Help with Medication Management
If you need help managing your loved one’s medications, having an Alzheimer’s home care provider step in and assist with this task is a great option. A provider trained in Alzheimer’s home care can work with you and your loved one to ensure medications are taken, refilled, and reviewed regularly to keep her in the best health.
If you or an aging loved one needs Alzheimer’s Home Care in Davis, CA, contact A Better Living Home Care today (916) 514-7006
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