10 Tips To Avoid Prescription Problems In The Elderly Phoenix AZ
10 Tips To Avoid Prescription Problems In The Elderly Phoenix AZ
Avoiding Medication Problems
Numerous elders are taking numerous medicines, which increases the
likelihood of prescription problems. Allow me to share some
excellent tips for seniors to reduce the probability of making a
mistake with their medications:
1. Check the label when you pick up a prescription to be sure
that you have the right prescription. Read back the prescription to
your doctor and pharmacist.
2. Keep all prescription in original containers.
3. Be sure to contact your health care provider or pharmacist
if you have any concerns about missing a dosage.
4. Always fill all medications at the same pharmacy.
5. Read the patient information that accompanies the
prescriptions.
6. Notify the pharmacist right away if there is a change in the
shape, color, size or smell of your medication.
7. You should not share or take another person’s medication.
8. If you are in doubt about a prescription you are taking, be
sure to consult your doctor. Always ask about side effects that you
might experience or expect.
9. Construct a list of the medications you are taking and share
with your Care Giver and family members. The list ought to include
the following information:
- Your name, social security number and your date of birth. The
Pharmacy needs this information when someone else is going to refill
the prescriptions without the client present. Your social security
number and your date of birth should be kept on a separate sheet to
protect against identity theft.
- Prescription name (the drugs being taken, both generic or brand)
- The strength (dosage)
- Instructions for using the prescriptions, including how many times
a day and what time of day medication should be taken
- What liquids or foods are being used to take or should be used to
take with meds, for example, water, juice, apple sauce etc.
- Your allergies to certain medicines as well as foods
- Pharmacy and health care providers names, addresses, contact
numbers
- Family emergency contact information
10. When you are in skilled nursing or a hospital:
- State your name before taking any medications and always show your
wrist bracelet for identification. Ask the doctor or nurse to
identify each medicine by name before you take it.
- Ask your doctor or nurse why your prescription has not been given
at its normal time during your hospital stay.
If your medication was started in the hospital, watch for new side
effects. If you experience new side effects or your condition is
not improving as it should, tell your nurse. From time to time
medications need to be changed when they are not performing
properly.
Be sure to ask your doctor how long a particular prescriptions will
be needed. Oft times prescriptions are added in the hospital or
skilled nursing facility for a temporary problem, but when you leave
the hospital for skilled nursing or your home, the prescription
remains. A different doctor may be reluctant to terminate a
prescription from another medical doctor.
- Remind your medical doctor if you have any allergies to certain
meds and food, or if you have a condition that may possibly affect
the use of some medications.
1. Tell your pharmacist if you are taking any dietary
supplements or over-the-counter meds.
2. Make sure your CareGiver has an up to date prescription log
listing all prescriptions, Doctor’s name, and Pharmacy.
Make sure to only take medications that you really need and check
with your medical doctor why you are taking it, how long you will
require it, what side effects to watch for, and that it won’t
conflict with any other meds you are taking.
In the Phoenix area Care-To-Go, an in-home care agency can assist
you with your prescription organization. Care-To-Go also provides
complete in-home care elder services. Contact Care-To-Go at
www.Care-To-Go.com and for an Elder Travel Companion CareToGoTravel.com