Common Medication Mistakes Seniors Make And How To Avoid Them
One of the ways that living independently can be challenging for seniors is that it means they must manage medications on their own. The average senior may take five or more medications, so managing them can become difficult over time. Senior home care providers can help your senior parent manage their medications at home. While a senior home care provider doesn’t administer medications, they can help your senior parent keep their medications organized, call for refills and pick them up at the pharmacy, and document any side effects that your senior parent experiences.
Making medication calendars, setting timers and alarms, and organizing pill boxes can all help your senior parent avoid medication mistakes like these:
Senior Home Care Garden City MI – Common Medication Mistakes Seniors Make And How To Avoid Them
Skipping Doses or Taking Too Much
One of the most common medication mistakes is forgetting to take a dose or accidentally taking too much. Seniors may miss doses because they simply forget or because they feel better and think they no longer need the medication. On the other hand, some seniors take an extra dose by mistake, which can lead to dangerous side effects or overdoses.
Easy ways to prevent this mistake are:
- Use a pill organizer with labeled days of the week.
- Set alarms or phone reminders.
- Keep a medication log to track doses.
- Get senior home care so that your senior parent gets regular medication reminders.
Mixing Medications That Shouldn’t Be Combined
Some medications can cause serious interactions when taken together. For example, mixing blood thinners with certain pain relievers can cause excessive bleeding. Some drugs, when taken together, may increase drowsiness, leading to falls or confusion.
Smart ways to make sure your senior parent isn’t mixing medications are:
- Always check with a doctor or pharmacist before starting a new medication.
- Use one pharmacy for all prescriptions so the pharmacist can catch dangerous combinations.
- Keep an updated medication list to share with healthcare providers.
Taking Medications the Wrong Way
Some medications need to be taken with food, while others should be taken on an empty stomach. Some should be swallowed whole, while others need to be chewed, crushed, or dissolved. Taking medicine the wrong way can make it less effective or cause harmful side effects.
To prevent stomach upsets and nausea when taking medications, your senior parent can:
- Read labels carefully and follow instructions, or ask a senior home care provider for help reading labels and following instructions.
- Ask a doctor or pharmacist for clarification.
- Avoid crushing or splitting pills unless a doctor says it’s safe.
Storing Medications Incorrectly
Heat, moisture, and light can affect how medications work. Many seniors store medicine in the bathroom, where humidity can make pills less effective. Others leave medication bottles open or mix different pills in one container, which can be confusing.
To prevent this mistake, a senior home care provider can:
- Make sure medicines are stored in a cool, dry, accessible place.
- Keep pills in original bottles with large, brightly colored labels.
- Check expiration dates regularly and properly dispose of medications that are past their expiration dates.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Senior Home Care Services in Garden City MI, please contact the caring staff at No Place Like Home Health, LLC today. 734-259-4200
Connecting Families with Compassionate & Quality Home Health Care In Wayne, Oakland, Livingston & Washtenaw.
- Common Medication Mistakes Seniors Make And How To Avoid Them - April 7, 2025
- How Does Physical Therapy Help Seniors with Arthritis? - March 21, 2025
- In-Home Care Can Help Your Senior Parent Get Around Safely - March 6, 2025
