Aging parents at potential risk for medication misuse

CONROE, Texas - Plenty of programs stress the importance of talking to teenagers about the dangers of drug misuse, but who is talking to seniors? According to a new survey of seniors*, nearly one-fifth of those taking five or more prescription medications have experienced challenges in managing their medications, including keeping track of which medications they have taken and when.

This type of unintentional medication misuse can often lead to devastating consequences. To help families have this critical conversation with their senior loved ones, the local Home Instead Senior Care® office, in-home senior care providers throughout Montgomery County, have launched a new public education program called Let’s Talk about Rx^SM, offering families free resources and tips, as well as insight into potential medication pitfalls facing seniors. The free solutions guide helps families better understand the potential risks associated with this growing problem and provides tools that can help older adults safely manage their medications.

Studies show that medication errors are among the most serious health risks facing seniors, and a key factor leading to long-term care placements, such as in a nursing home. However, for many, medication management is a difficult subject to broach as it is a very personal topic. Often times, seniors have been managing this aspect of their life on their own for many years and may not be fully aware of potential pitfalls.

“We’re encouraging everyone to have these conversations with their families because we’ve seen that seniors’ ability to remain independent in their homes is greatly dependent on their ability to manage their medications,” said Polo and Sharon LaCoste, franchise owners of the Home Instead Senior Care office in Conroe. “If families see any signs that their senior loved one may be having difficulties – such as unintended weight loss or full medicine bottles – we encourage them to help their senior loved one, serving as a second set of eyes and ears, or ask for help.”

Family caregivers can accompany their senior to the doctor, use pill boxes and medication trackers, or look into pharmacies like Simple Meds^SM that package medications and vitamins in single-dose packs. Having the right medication management plan can help seniors stay independent in their homes and avoid adverse drug reactions.

“Discussing medication regimens with a loved one increases their self-confidence to correctly take their prescriptions, over-the-counter medications and vitamins,” said Dr. Jane Potter, geriatrician and director of the Home Instead Center for Successful Aging at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “This is increasingly important both as an individual ages and the number of medications they take increases. Taking more medications puts seniors at higher risk for a medical emergency from incorrect dosing or adverse medication interactions.”

To obtain the solutions guide, or to view other program resources and tips, visit www.LetsTalkAboutRx.com. Or, contact your local Home Instead Senior Care office today to learn how family caregivers can help seniors avoid medication mishaps, including by having a Home Instead® CAREGiver^SM provide medication reminders. Call 936-441-3223 to schedule a free in-home care consultation. Visit us on our website www.homeinstead.com/607 and “LIKE” us on Facebook for more senior resources in our community www.facebook.com/homeinstead607.

*Home Instead, Inc. completed telephone interviews with a random sample of 500 seniors in the United States and Canada to identify their perceptions and habits regarding medication safety. Only seniors who take one or more prescription medications were included in the survey.

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, by Lori and Paul Hogan, the Home Instead Senior Care^® network provides personalized care, support and education to help enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today this network is the world's leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchises that are estimated to annually provide more than 50 million hours of care throughout the United States and 14 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 65,000 CAREGivers^SM worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. The Home Instead Senior Care network strives to partner with each client and his or her family members to help meet that individual’s needs. Services span the care continuum from providing companionship and personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. At Home Instead Senior Care, it’s relationship before task, while striving to provide superior quality service.

Five Tips for Senior Medication Safety

The Home Instead Senior Care network offers five tips for family caregivers to better help their senior avoid adverse drug reactions and stay independent in his or her home:

• · Have a family or professional caregiver accompany the senior to the doctor to ask questions and ensure full understanding of the medication regimen
• · Make one doctor the gatekeeper to manage medications and discuss any problems taking a medication, such as the inability to swallow a pill
• · Use medication organizers, such as a pill box
• · Use medication trackers
• · Consider ordering medications from a pharmacy such as Simple Meds that provides pre-packaged doses of medications and vitamins

For more tips and a senior medications solutions guide, visit www.LetsTalkAboutRx.com.