As your senior parents age, it's common for them to experience some decline in their cognitive abilities. This can include memory lapses and difficulty understanding complex instructions. These effects can be exacerbated and can lead to an unintentional mix-up in their pills and medications.
Understand the Reasons Why Senior Loved Ones May Be Mixing Up Their Pills and Medication
In order to help your senior loved one avoid mixing up their medication, it's important to understand why it can happen. There are a few common causes, including:
Cognitive Decline
Senior relatives may experience a decline in their cognitive abilities. This can cause issues with their memory, confusion, and an inability to understand the directions on the bottle.
Poor Vision
Poor vision can be an obstacle to accurately reading the labels on medication bottles, which can lead to accidentally taking the wrong medication or the wrong dose.
Faulty Memory
Memory problems can also cause senior relatives to forget to take their medication or to take the wrong medication.
Problems with Hearing
Difficulty hearing can make it difficult to understand instructions from healthcare providers. This can lead to misunderstandings and potentially taking the wrong medication.
Strategies to Help Elderly Relatives Avoid Mixing Up Their Pills and Medication
There are a few strategies that can help senior relatives take the right medication in the correct dosage on time, such as:
Using Pill Boxes
Pill boxes are an effective way to help senior relatives keep track of their medications. They can easily store pills in clearly labeled sections and help ensure the right medication is taken at the right time throughout the week.
Labeling Medication Bottles
Labeling medication bottles using a permanent marker can help remind your senior loved one what each medication is for and when it should be taken.
Using Color Coding
If your senior loved one has vision issues, you can color-code the medication bottles. This can make it easier for them to identify the right medication at the correct time.
Using Reminders
Setting reminders for taking medication can help your senior parent take the right pills and medications at the right times.
Seek Professional Help
If you're concerned about a senior parent mixing up their pills and medications, it's important to seek advice from a professional. Consider speaking to the following:
The Pharmacist
Pharmacists are experts on medication and can provide helpful advice about how to reduce the risk of medication mixing.
Their Doctor
Doctors can provide helpful advice and prescribe medications safely.
A Caregiver
If a senior relative requires more support in managing their medications, consider speaking to a caregiver who can provide more personalized and in-depth support.
Senior Helpers Visalia Can Remind Your Senior Loved One to Take Their Medication on Time
Mixing up pills and medication can lead to adverse health effects, especially for seniors. If you live in Visalia, Hanford, Tulare, Kings County, and Tulare County, Senior Helper Visalia can remind your senior parent when it's time to take their pills and help with so much more. To learn more about how we can help you and your senior relatives, contact us today!