5 Common Medication Mistakes Seniors Make and How To Avoid Them

If you have a senior parent that is aging in place they may need help to make sure they are taking their medications correctly and on time. The average senior takes around five medications. And seniors who have health conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or respiratory illness may take even more than that.

Remembering when to take all of those medications and taking them the correct way can be a challenge for seniors. Elder care providers can help your mom or dad avoid making medication mistakes. If your mom or dad has elder care services, a care provider will remind them when it’s time to take medication.

An elder care provider can also write out a medication schedule for your mom or dad, set reminders, and use other tools to make sure that your mom or dad doesn’t forget to take their medications.

Elder care can also help your mom or dad avoid these common medication mistakes that seniors living alone make:

 

1. Taking the Wrong Dose

Taking the wrong dose of a medication is a common mistake that seniors make. Seniors may misread labels or confuse measurements. For example, your mom or dad may take a full tablet instead of half or misunderstand liquid doses. If your mom or dad has low vision, that can make it hard to see small print on bottles.

Taking too much or too little of a medication can cause serious health problems, like blood pressure changes or even organ damage.

 

2. Mixing Medications that Shouldn’t Be Combined

Many seniors take multiple medications for different health issues. Some medications can interact badly with others, leading to dangerous side effects. For example, mixing certain painkillers with blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding. Your mom or dad may not realize that over-the-counter drugs or supplements that they’re taking can also interact with prescription medications.

An elder care provider can check for possible interactions before your mom or dad takes multiple medications.

 

3. Stopping Medications Too Soon

Seniors sometimes stop taking medication when they start feeling better. For instance, your mom or dad may take antibiotics for a few days and then stop once their symptoms improve.

However, stopping a medication too soon can be harmful. Some illnesses or conditions require a full course of treatment to prevent symptoms from coming back or worsening. Seniors may not understand the importance of finishing their prescriptions, which can lead to a relapse or ineffective treatment.

 

4. Crushing or Splitting Pills Without Checking

Some seniors find large pills hard to swallow, so they may crush or split them. However, not all medications are safe to crush or split. Some pills are time-released, meaning they release medication slowly over time. Crushing them can cause the medication to enter the body too quickly, which may lead to side effects or overdose. Other pills may lose their effectiveness if they’re split.

An elder care provider can carefully read all the paperwork that comes with the prescriptions to make sure that your senior parent takes the medication the right way.

 

5. Storing Medications Incorrectly

Medications can lose their effectiveness if they aren’t stored correctly. Many seniors store pills in places like bathrooms or kitchens where heat and moisture are common because that’s how they remember to take them.

High temperatures and humidity can make some drugs break down faster. Medications should be kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Some may even require refrigeration. Improper storage can reduce the medicine’s effectiveness and make it less helpful in treating health issues.

An elder care provider can make sure that your mom or dad is storing their medications properly so they are as effective as they should be.

 

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Elder Care in Manassas, VA, please contact the caring staff at Thrive Health Care Services today. (703) 992-0484