Understanding Our Aging Loved Ones’ Medications: Important Information for Every Family!

By , January 31, 2010

As people age, the likelihood of taking medicines increases; studies show that the more medicines people take, the more likely they are to be taking a medicine they may not need. It is, therefore, important to take an active role in understanding what is being prescribed for you. In order to better manage chronic conditions, reduce the chance of harmful drug interactions and get the best value for your money, keep in mind that you are part of a team—along with your doctors and other health care professionals—working to make good health care decisions.

Medicine Record

To start with, it is important that you keep good track of all the medicines you are taking; this will also help to reduce your risk of harmful drug interactions. Make your own list of medicines by keeping a medicine record. Update your medicine record whenever you start on a new medicine or when you are no longer taking a medicine.

Include the following in your medicine record:

• Name of medicine

• What it is for

• Name of doctor who prescribed it

• How and when to take

• How much to take (dosage)

• Color/shape of medicine

• Any side effects or warnings

You can also take advantage of medication tracker software on your personal computer.

See http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medication-tracker/index.htm for help organizing and tracking your medicines, as well as other information to share with your doctor.

Talking to Your Doctor

It is important to get into the habit of asking your doctor questions about your medicines each time you receive a new prescription. If you receive prescriptions from more than one doctor, always take your medicine record with you and let your doctor know which medicines you are currently taking.

Questions to Ask About Your Medicines:

• Why do I take this prescription? Is it for long- or short-term use?

• How do I take this medicine (how often, with/without food, etc.)?

• What are its side effects? What should I do if they occur?

• Can I substitute a non-drug alternative or a generic?

• Does it duplicate any of the other prescriptions I am taking?

• What should I do if I miss a dose?

• If I cut a pill in half, will it be ineffective?

• Does this drug interact with any of the other prescriptions I take?

• How important is this prescription given my finances and overall health?

• Does my health or age make this drug unsafe for me?

Don’t Forget to Mention. . .

• Any over-the-counter (OTC) medicines you are currently taking such as pain relievers, antacids and laxatives; be sure to include any herbal, vitamin or dietary supplements as well.

• Any research you have done.

Go to http://www.CRBestBuyDrugs.org to download simple reports featuring comparisons of drugs by medical condition or drug class.

Keeping Up with Your Medicines

• Keep medicines in plain sight in a cool, dry place like a kitchen counter or desktop.

• Do not keep your medicines in the refrigerator, unless told to do so by your doctor, pharmacist or the instructions on your medicine bottle.

• Do not keep your medicines in a bathroom where they can become damaged and less effective from shower steam or moisture.

• Set timers and reminders to take your medicines, if needed. Program clocks for when you are at home, and cell phones and watches when you are traveling.

• When flying, carry your medicines with you; do not pack them in your checked luggage. Check with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for the most current information about traveling with medicines at http://www.tsa.gov or 1.866.289.9673.

• Avoid having to make last minute refills. Mark your calendar in advance or look into a mail-order pharmacy, which can be less expensive.

The best way to keep up with your medicines is to keep your medicine record and bottles within easy reach.

Overcoming Some Medicine Hurdles

Sometimes people avoid taking prescribed medicines. If you are one of these people, ask yourself if any of the following apply to you:

I have trouble affording it — If a medicine is expensive, you may decide not to get the prescription filled. Talk to your doctor about the cost of a drug to see if there are less expensive generic medicines.

I don’t feel any different when taking the drug, or, my symptoms have gone away — Sometimes it is hard to tell when a medicine is working; many medicines work as a “preventative” by preventing your symptoms or conditions from getting worse. Understanding which medicines work to prevent your symptoms from getting worse will help in following your drug routine.

My symptoms are worsening, or, I’m having side effects — Due to changes in your body as you age, prescriptions you have taken for years may begin to affect you differently; signs of memory loss, irritability or loss of coordination can be due to drug interactions rather than medical conditions. It is important to record any change in symptoms or side effects, and share this information in detail with your doctor immediately. This may result in taking a lower dose, changing when you take the prescription, or taking a different medicine altogether.

My medicines are complicated to take — Especially when managing several medicines, it becomes more difficult to observe all of the rules required for each medicine. Getting organized with your medicine record is the easiest way to get into the habit of taking your medicines successfully.

The most important aspect of your drug routine is that it is manageable.

Getting the Best Value for Your Medicines

Review your needs every year

Evaluate your prescription drug plan and compare it with your needs every year. There can be major changes in the pharmaceutical and insurance industries each year that will affect what benefits are being offered and what drugs are covered (and at what prices).

Look into your medicine choices

Doctors do not know what prescriptions are covered by your insurance company. Ask your insurance company for a copy of your drug plan “formulary” (which is a list of all medicines covered by your insurance company) and bring it to your doctors’ appointments. Together, you can evaluate the choice of medicines that will be most effective.

Consider a generic

“Generics” are copies of brand-name medicines whose patents have expired (expirations occur after the drug has been on the market many years). Because a drug has been on the market for so long, it is proven. Generics are less expensive because the research has already been done and the drug has already been tested by the original manufacturer. Makers of generic drugs are not allowed to copy the exact look of the original brand-name drug so a generic drug may look different than the original brand-name medicine, but all generic drugs must maintain the same chemical make-up as the original.

Shop around

Consider all of your drug plan’s preferred pharmacies and compare prices. Ask about pharmacy discount cards and senior citizen discounts; ask your insurance company about online or mail-order pharmacies.

Help Paying for Your Medicines

After reviewing ways to save money on your medicines, you may find that you are still having trouble paying for them. Here are some websites that can provide additional assistance:

• Medicare Extra Help Program provides information about the Social Security assistance program and application process for the Medicare Part D Subsidy: www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp.

• State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) provides information about any available state-funded assistance programs for prescription drug costs: www.medicare.gov/spap.asp.

• Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (PAP) provides information about pharmaceutical companies that offer assistance programs for the drugs they manufacture: www.medicare.gov/pap.

Finding Answers

There are community experts who can help you evaluate your needs for the best prescription drug plan for you. To find a AAA or SHIP near you, call the Eldercare Locator at 1.800.677.1116 or visit the website at www.eldercare.gov.

AmeriCare home care services provide medication reminders and assistance with transportation to doctor’s visits. Keeping our seniors safe and healthy is our priority. Find an AmeriCare office near you by visiting http://americareinfo.com, or call 1-800-610-2029.

Tags: aging loved ones, caregiver, companionship, in-home care, in-home care provider, medication reminders, medications, mental condition, new mother, respite care

Posted in: Americare home care, aging, aging loved ones, elder care, glaucoma, home care, medication reminders, medications, senior care, seniors

Are you a caretaker or a caregiver?

By Debbie Reis, President of AmeriCare, October 22, 2009

Do you ever place other people’s needs before your own? Do you ever feel that you care for a loved one out of responsibility or moral obligation? Do you ever feel like no one fully appreciates all that you do?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you fit the description of a caretaker. As a caretaker, you stretch yourself thin. You sacrifice your own personal time rather than disappoint a loved one. Often your day is a frantic attempt to balance the needs of family, work and the person for whom you care. You can easily feel overloaded, as your best never seems to satisfy all the things required of you. It’s frustrating, exhausting… and it’s unnecessary.

There is a happier, healthier way to meet your responsibilities. It involves a transition… to a caregiver.

Caregivers take a different approach. They recognize their limitations, and realize that they must take care of themselves before they can be of any help to anyone else. Instead of franticly juggling, they prioritize. They delegate. And most importantly, they seek help before they become overwhelmed, stressed out and resentful of those who depend on them. Caregivers understand that time spent with a loved one must never become a burden or a chore. That’s not productive or healthy for either one of you. Time spent with a loved one should be time you appreciate… quality time… sometimes trivial, sometimes silly, but often filled with moments that will become memories.

Becoming a caregiver can be quite a big transition. And it can require help. At AmeriCare we’re focused on providing this help, so you can find balance. Our professional caregivers are trained to be resources for you, whether you’re looking for companion, at home or senior care. By matching the right professional with your specific needs, we can offer your loved one comfort and you confidence.

We think of it as a solution for the whole family, which is only natural because almost every AmeriCare employee has been a caregiver for someone in their own family. It’s a difference you will notice in all the thoughtful things we do.

Tags: caregiver, caretaker, respite care, responsibility, senior care

Posted in: Uncategorized

Compassionate Approach to Discussing In-Home Care

By Sally Price, AmeriCare Franchisee in Northern CA, August 11, 2009

Discuss before hiring

When considering an in-home care provider, your parents should be a part of the discussion. Recognize that your parents may be experiencing tremendous amounts of fear once they realize that they are not functioning well on their own. They fear losing their freedom or their home. Respect their feelings and always approach the topic of in-home care with compassion.

Begin Slowly

Most elderly parents respond to in-home care by saying, “There’s really nothing for the caregiver to do.”

 Suggest they give the caregiver a try with basic housekeeping, such as laundry, changing bed linens and cleaning. Or the caregiver can perform errands such as grocery shopping or accompanying your parents to doctor appointments. Keep in mind that as the caregiver takes on these smaller tasks your parent will most likely begin to feel more comfortable trusting them with larger and perhaps more personal duties later. 

 Most importantly remember to reassure your parents that in-home care is NOT the beginning of the end, but an active step to prolong their ability to remain in their home. Having an in-home care provider is another form of preventative medicine. Like exercising or taking vitamins, in-home care can help your parent’s lead healthy, active, and happy lives.

Tags: care provider, caregiver, home care, in-home care, in-home care provider, parents

Posted in: Uncategorized