Nurse/relative leaves meds on the kitchen table for elder patient to take. Elder patient is supposed to walk to the kitchen table . There is going to be day elder patient will not want to walk to the kitchen table.
It depends on your state. If your client has home health services (visiting RN), ask them what your limits are, or ask your employer to ask the physician.
I agree. You will have to get clarification from your employer or home health. It also depends on when the med doses are supposed to be taken. If the day comes that elder will not walk to kitchen table then a new med location will have to be assigned and verbal prompting from you will have to be used. Good luck.
I work in home healthcare too for a nursing agency. I think our caregivers are advised to give "medication reminders" as a way of getting around the responsibility of actually having to administer the med but I also know that in practice the meds are usually given to the patient because, as you said, sometimes a reminder doesn't cut it or the person is bedbound and is unable to come and get the medication. And in dealing with someone with dementia or Alzheimer's at times it does no good to remind them to take their meds. You just may need to put them on a saucer and stand there as the client takes the meds.
But yes, check with your agency to know what the 'official' rules are. Working in home health we have to have guidelines but as I'm sure you know there is also a lot of improvising that is necessary. ;-)
But yes, check with your agency to know what the 'official' rules are. Working in home health we have to have guidelines but as I'm sure you know there is also a lot of improvising that is necessary. ;-)