What does one do when an elderly person decides they are going off a prescribed medication?

discouraged,

Sorry to hear that your elderly loved one is refusing to take their medication. Unfortunately this is a common issues in many elders. Below is an article that can help you with ways to get them to take their medication.

Top 6 Medication Problems and How to Prevent Them
www.agingcare.com/Articles/senior-medication-problems-how-to-get-seniors-to-take-medications-146111.htm

Best of Luck,
Karie H.
AgingCare.com Team

You know, my mother was like that all her life. She had a multitude of problems in the last 10 years of her life, and was just sick and tired of being sick and tired. She self-diagnosed herself all the time, and I've gotta say she was right for the most part. She knew her body, she knew what was and wasn't working, so she did what she wanted to. She would find a doctor that was firmer than normal and tell her she HAD to take her meds as prescribed, and she would... sort of. Basically it didn't matter in the end since she died of cancer and NO pill would've helped that I'm afraid. So to answer your question, I have no idea. Unless you can find a doctor that will run roughshod over your mom, AND she will actually take the advice to heart, you're doomed.

I would ask them why they do not want to take the meds my husband did not take his bi-polor med because he liked his brain going 100 miles an hour and did not have to be responsible for his actions when he did not take it and my mother decided when to take or not take her blood thinning meds-even though the MD's nurse told her never to stop it without a doctor's order she thought she was the boss of herself-also it might be the cost of the med-in the end it is up to her and this is something they can have control over in their life.

Please let their doctor know as soon as you can. I was a special education teacher for 35 years, and had a student who died after the parent stopped the meds without the help of the doctor. Take care and best wishes.

My wife is a 79 year old dementia patient. She will often refuse to take her meds. But I have developed a method to get her to get her to comply. I simpley tell her to hold out her hand, I put the pills in her hand, then I tell her to put the pills in her mouth and finally I hand her a glass of water and tell her to drink it. I have found out that she cannot handle more than one thing at a time. It seems to be just way too confusing to do otherwise .The good news is that it works every time. I hope that this works for you..

This problem first arose when I asked her to help me set the dinner table and she could not figure out how to give each plate a knife, a fork and a spoon. She tried but she simply put some thing here and others there..Now I give her the silverware one at a time and she is happy to be of help.

Here's a couple thought's: #1, not knowing 'what' this med is all answers can vary. Some meds you need to wein off - some you don't. I would look these meds up or ask her doc. My mom was on 13 diff meds and I got her down to 1 - a blood pressure pill. Greed is very much alive and well in this industry. #2 Assuming she 'needs' this med to live a healthy life - mash it up in a soft food, such as mashed potatoes, apple sauce, yogart, squash - etc. Put it in the bite you feed her so she is sure to take it. That's if she 'must' take if and refuses. Also some meds come in liquid form so if she must take this ask the doc what other forms it comes in. If she has dementia it may be one of her power plays. Go along with her as though you agree and together see what the doctor advises. She'll appreciate that you are working to understand her desires and trying to remedy it for her. (I think !! lol) Good Luck, not sure how helpful this was not knowig the whole situation.

What else might be causing the difficulty walking, other than lack of a medication?