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poetry21 Asked July 2018

Can you bring supplements for a patient who is in rehab?

For those whose loved one is in a rehab or nursing homes. Can you bring some supplements to ask nurses to give to the patients (like CoQ10 or omega3)? Or they will follow only doctors orders?

Llamalover47 Aug 2018
Check with the facility.

MaryLouLou Aug 2018
My understanding is that there are new hospital protocols that allow patients to take OTC vitamins and supplements without a doctor's order. My husband also takes AREDS2 and when I mention the hospital's requirements to my friend who is an attorney-nurse practitioner, she told me that the hospital is out of date.

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Nancynurse Aug 2018
My mother is in ALP and has several supplements that she takes. I just ask the dr. to order them and he did. Most of them Medicaid will pay for but some things they won't so I just pick them up myself, label them and take them into the facility. I check periodically when I visit to see if they are getting low on any so I can order them and keep them in stock.

surprise Aug 2018
What I did to be able to have my mthr given her normal suppliments is that I downloaded the labels from the vitamins and printed them off. I then wrote a letter explaining to the doc that these were the suppliments mthr had been taking and that we needed him to "prescribe" them for her to be able to take them while in the facility. That is what the facility required for her to be handed them by their medication cart person. In addition, a copy of the prescription had to go to the pharmacy, and I had to take them the bottle of vitamins if they did not carry it. Our facility also requires all meds to be repackaged by the pharmacy into packets for when they are to be given (time or meals) so there is no mix up. So I specified that he needed to include in the prescription to give these vitamins with breakfast so the pharmacy would package them correctly.

We used a doctor for this who was very happy that we were interested in helping her this way. If your mom's cardio is who wants her to have the pills, he would be the one to ask if he would prescribe these for her as well.
poetry21 Aug 2018
Thanks, surprise, I will do the same. Hopefully I ll meet the doctor when she ll be admitted in the new facility.
anonymous238579 Aug 2018
In my mom's case her Dr. knows what supplements she takes - Vitamin D, multi-vitamin, for example - and has that information on her computerized chart, so it was no problem for her Board and Care to administer them. Check with her regular Dr. or look at some paperwork given after your last visit with that Dr. and see whether the info. on the supplements was included.

However, I imagine this would apply to the types of vitamins, minerals, herbals, and other supplements that are found in drug stores or food markets, including one's that specialize in large vitamin/mineral aisles. If the supplements you are giving are unusual then you have a real issue on your hands.

So, first check her paperwork from her last Dr. visit. If the supplement information isn't there then contact her regular Dr. and ask him/her to add this information to her medication regimen at the nursing home.

Harpcat Aug 2018
From a liability standpoint, a facility must have a doctor’s order. My dad takes some supplements and AREDS for macular degeneration. There was no problem getting those approved. The facility orders them and dispenses them. Saves me from having to buy and supply.

poetry21 Jul 2018
AhmiJoy, you are correct, but she was on those supplemenmts for years and they gave her strength. I understand that they will not give it until the doctors order. Then I ll bring when I ll visit. And believe me Co Q10 only helps with antihypertensive medications, all cardiologists accept that. But thank you for your answer, you definetely right that some supplements can react with other meds

poetry21 Jul 2018
Ok, but then who will stop me to give it to her, while I am here?
Ahmijoy Jul 2018
They can’t stop you from giving your mom the supplements. But if, God forbid, something should happen to one of their residents because a family member gave them something and they find out about it, they cannot be held responsible. Why wouldn’t you want to speak with her doctor and have him order it for her? If it helps her so much, I can’t see the doctor denying her.
Ahmijoy Jul 2018
Facilities cannot allow outsiders to bring things like supplements in and give them to their residents. They must follow the doctor’s orders about what their patients take. There are some supplements that could have an adverse reaction with some medications. If they aren’t aware of what a family member has given their patient, they may not be able to treat them. Talk to the nurse about it and if it’s feasible, they can get the supplements themselves and give them to the patient.
poetry21 Jul 2018
Unfortunately, her doctor in a facility is very how its say inattentive, but of course I will never leave it with her, only give myself during her meals. Her family doctor was agree with all supplements, but she is not visiting this facility unfortunately, so she can not make an orders.
JoAnn29 Jul 2018
They follow only doctors orders and I am pretty sure anything they r given is ordered thru their pharmacy. You can talk to the Head nurse and see what their procedures are.

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