Inspirational article, I must say! It becomes quite easy, to take care of patients suffering from Diabetes, Alzheimer’s, Tuberculosis or Congestive Heart Failure etc. with help of medication app like.The timely reminder's help you take the prescribed medicine on time!
(1)
Report

Does anyone know of an app on my phone that would alert me to time to give the medication? And, a list of meds to keep on my phone?
(0)
Report

My wife and I had a problem keeping up with a loved ones medications.sorting pills, drug interactions, and constantly running or refilling presciptions. Unfortunately, my father in law passed last year and our new challenge is KNOWING if my wifes mom was taking her pills. We found a great solution with a local pharmacy that serves western Pa. the send the pills in dose form and take care of the refills. we know know when or if the meds are taken and this has made our lives much easier. I have the information if anyone would like it.
(1)
Report

I was called last week by the nursing supervisor at my Mother's Assisted Living and told that they would no longer allow her to use the M-F dispensers! She has been living at this facility for over 8 years and has always managed her own meds until 5 years ago. Her Macular Degeneration got so bad I started doing it for her. Although we have had no problems with this routine, (she is able to take the meds on her own day to day AND at noon AND at night using the M-F dispensers), they suddenly want her to not use the M-F dispensers.
This will add approximately $500.00 to $1,000.00 PER MONTH to her bill! This Assisted Living has recently come under new management and I think they are attempting to make more money off their clients. My mother makes her own bed each day/dresses herself/etc. I think this is a ploy to:
MAKE MORE MONEY! Anyone else with this problem?
(1)
Report

I keep a spreadsheet for all medications - including columns for start date, dosage, units.

I also keep on my cell phone a close-up photo of the prescription label, and all OTC meds. This was great when we had an ER visit - and I did not have the paper list with me. I only keep the current med photos. And Update when meds are changed.
(1)
Report

Great tips on what caregivers should ask the doctor of an elderly loved one. Care giving is difficult at times, but being knowledgeable about your loved ones’ medication gives you peace of mind. Thanks for sharing, -Susan
(0)
Report

Check with your pharmacy, mine has auto fill. They fill the Rx when time and will call you when it is ready for pick up.
(1)
Report

My husband has dementia and takes many pills per day including vitamins and aspirin...I always double checked the morning pills before I gave them to him---all 10 pills! I worry about something happening to me (or my mind LOL) so I took a digital photograph of all the pills sitting on an index card with the name and amount. You can separate them for morning and evening, etc. I feel much better that someone could take over for me if needed. Just keeping up with refills on time is a big challenge for me! I don't know how everyone else can cope with this! It's a big responsibility!! Any suggestions are appreciated!! Thanks!
(0)
Report

There are web sites like Drug Interaction or Rx List that will inform you if there are any interactions between your prescription drugs or non prescription drugs, vitamins or foods etc. Make a graph of your medications, and just check off the boxes that have interactions. Then make a list of the hours of the day, and take that list to your pharmacist or physician or nurse and ask them to help you choose the best time of day to take each pill. This visual aid helps choose the path of least harm, particularly if you have a very long prescription drug list. Some drugs boost or decrease the effectiveness of other drugs,. You can even include a description of the pill. Make more than one copy of this list. Dispense your pills onto the paper first, and then put them in the pill dispenser. You can always ask the Pharmacist to pre-dispense the pills in those bubble cards.
(1)
Report

My Mother is beginning to forget if she takes her pain medication. She only takes certain ones at certain times (besides her daily medications which she has in a container marked Morning/noon/eve/night). How can I help her remember if she has taken the pills or not? I have thought of another container with the times marked on them, but not sure how to approach her with the idea.
(0)
Report

I have been taking care of my grandparents and the medication. I keep the medication at my place and sort it for them. There are a few meds that are okay to keep at thier place. Those meds I sit down and let grandmother get involved to help with. I sit with her and tell her what needs to be done. I agree with Scoutlady on the independence. Every situation is different but may be simular. I have past the point of the meds. being at thier home, when grandmother gave grandfather her meds. Sounds to me that you can sit together and have conversation while watching what is being done. Gentle reminders,does that go there? If the person doesnt' want to then ask them to teach you how to do it.
(1)
Report

So nice to talk to you too, and everyone else. Dad wasn't always this way, but has always been stubborn. I somehow had a feeling that when the time came for him to have to have help, that it would be this way. He has never had to ask anyone for help and never would. I sympathize with him, I would not want to be a burden to my kids. I'm now, the only child. (age 48, not really a child), but sometimes LOL. I have many mixed feelings about putting him in assisted living. I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to feel, I suppose no one really does until the time comes. I will feel sad, guilty, and worry all the time if he is getting the proper care or not. But one good thing is I will be his guardian, so if I'm not pleased with the quality of care, I will have the power and authority to do something about it. God Bless You, and take care too.
(1)
Report

How are you feeling about him going to assisted living? We need to be thinking about that soon for Gma, she is 88, pretty independent and functionable, just needs help. We are fortunate that Gma is usually in a pretty good mood and agreeable to almost every suggestion we make. Our problem really isn't so much with her and it is with other relatives involved ( or should I say not involved) Gma lives right next door. She travels in the winter to be with her neice and cousin, then returns home from around March-Nov. We handle all of her bills while she is gone, then I "help" her with them when she is here. We sort her mail before giving it to her, otherwise she sends money to every charitable organization that comes along and sends magazines to everyone and pays triple for the subscriptions.

Sorry to go on and on, but it is nice to talk with others who have similar situations. I am praying for you to make it through the next month, hopefully you will survive!! Take care!
(0)
Report

You're sweet. But no one wants to help, since my Dad has become so miserable to be around, and blames everyone but himself for his predicament. He's been in my house for 3 months, going on five years LOL, probably one more month, then off to assisted living to be with others he can relate to LOL.
(0)
Report

My applauds to you. I cannot imagine trying to take care of gma with young children also. My children are 11 and 13. I guess they only way you can make sure they are taking their meds as directed and that no children are able to get to them is to administer them personally yourself. Alot of work, do you have someone to help you?
(0)
Report

In my case, I have small children around all the time, and a soon to be crawling baby, and cannot afford any dropped or misplaced pills.
(0)
Report

We have the pharmacy put her medicines in a card where she has to "pop" out each day, it is labeled by the day and we can tell whether or not she is taking them and what day she missed or not. We have suggested this idea to her and she was thrilled that she does not have to figure out what pills go in what day in those plastic day pill containers. Now, we just have to watch to make sure when she does take them out she actually takes them and does not leave them on the table. She does pretty good, sometimes I find some on table or floor, I think she drops them but for the most part this works well!!
(0)
Report

when they become too disoriented, confused, simplifying the process does not work. I know, I watch my father with his medications. You must supervise them or an accident will happen, they can't remember what and how much they have taken sometimes. Good Luck caregivers.
(1)
Report

In my opinion, it's good for elderly to maintain independence as long as possibily. Sit down with them and see if you can simplify the process. It will be easier for them and more assurance for you. I made a list of meds for for my aunt and we mark each bottle with a 1,2,3 or 4. That way she knows when filling the bottle what pill goes in bkfs, lunch, dinner and bedtime slots. I also learned that you can have some local pharmacies fill a mediset with 2 weeks of pills then deliver them to your loved one. May be more expensive, but at least it will be done correctly. Visiting nurses can also come every 2 weeks to do the task. Depending on insurance company, this should be a benefit.
(2)
Report

That works somewhat. My mother keeps trying to fill her own pill containers. When she realizes that she cannot do it, she puts the pills back in their bottles. Last week I found heart pills in her aspirin container. I had to spill out all her pills to make sure there were no more mixups.
(0)
Report

Nancy,
Just allow the person to fill the box. Then at a later time, go back and check for accuracy when the person isn't around. As I'm sure you have discovered, it won't work to try to convince him/her that he/she can't to it.
(1)
Report

What to do when the patient insists on putting his own medication in his daily pill minders each week - and you don't know if they are done correctly or not.
(0)
Report

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter