How to Monitor Your Senior Loved One's Medical Regimen and Habits

Old age comes with a host of chronic illnesses and conditions that force one to be on medication on a daily basis. Whether they take supplements to boost bodily function or drugs to manage conditions such as hypertension, your senior loved one needs to maintain diligence in adhering to dosage instructions. Unfortunately, old age also comes with forgetfulness and memory loss. It is not uncommon for your loved one to forget to take their drugs or take the wrong dose. How do you make sure that they adhere to their medical regimen to maintain their health? Here are a few tips to help you out.

Buy a pill organizer

Pill organizers are saviours when it comes to monitoring medication use. They are labelled cases that you fill with pills based on the dosage instructions given by the doctor. So, if you have to take three different medicines in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night, you fill out the cases in this order. Pill organizers can help your loved one monitor their drug use. Any missed doses are evident as the pills will still be in the case.

As you get a pill organizer for your loved one, help them to fill it out as well so that they can take the correct dosage. These small cases help even the most forgetful person to stick to their medication schedule. They help manage complicated dosage regimens that would easily cause under- or over-dosage.

Talk to your loved one

Taking pills on a daily basis is not a pleasant experience. Your loved one may be deliberately skipping medication to get out of having to pop the nasty pill. However, talking to them can help change this attitude towards drugs. Let them know that the pills are meant to be of benefit to their bodies and keep illnesses at bay.

Note that there are instances when the habit is unintentional. Your loved one may be developing emotional or mental problems that cause them to forget medication. That's why you should regularly visit a physician for checkups so that any underlying issues that could affect their memory may be identified on time.

Get a caregiver

Unless you live under the same roof with your senior loved one, it will be hard to monitor their medication regimen. Getting home care can be an excellent way of caring for them and ensuring that they adhere to their medication. Caregivers will not only supervise their drug use, but they will also handle any other medical needs of your loved one.

Follow these simple yet actionable tips to ensure that your senior loved one takes their medication as instructed by the physician. For more information, contact your local in-home personal care professionals.