It is no wonder that some elderly adults get confused with their medications and often miss doses or take too much of a medication. According to 2010 statistics, “medication usage among elderly patients in the US is eye-opening: more than one-third of prescriptions drugs used in the US are taken by elderly patients; the ambulatory elderly fill between 9-13 prescriptions a year (including new prescriptions and refills).” In addition the average elderly patient takes more than five prescription medications; and the average nursing home patient takes seven medications.
If your elderly parent is on several medications, do you know if they are managing dosages appropriately? A quick look in their medicine cabinet or wherever they keep their medications should give you a good idea. If they have outdated bottles of pills mixed in with current prescriptions or un-opened bags from the pharmacy, chances are they are not doing a good job. Experts warn it can be a sensitive topic to broach with your loved one, but if you start slowly, you should be able to help them get things sorted out and organized. Begin by listing all of the current medications they take including over-the-counter drugs, herbal supplements and vitamins. Your list should include medicine they take every day and things they use occasionally. Now take the list to their pharmacist to see if the combination of what they are taking is safe to do so. Many drugs can poorly interact with one another or be redundant. Check with their doctor to see if they still need to take a particular drug or is it just getting refilled over and over again. If it helps, get a new pillbox that better fits their need. There are many choices including color coded and multiple holders. If medication management continues to be a problem, you may need to look into getting more help for your parent. At MorningStar at Jordan Creek, our assisted living Des Moines community is designed to provide the utmost care for our residents. From healthy daily meals to wellness programs and activities, we have a whole range of services and resort-style amenities to ensure their comfort and wellbeing. Our care services include care managers, access to licensed nurses, and medication care managers. Please visit our website to learn more and while you are there inquiry about our pricing and availability. MorningStar at Jordan Creek proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please schedule a tour to see the finest senior living in the Des Moines area. Source: health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/slideshows/how-to-help-aging-parents-manage-medications?onepage
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We know that seniors value their independence and that many are reluctant to let families and friends know they may need more help. Often older adults fear they may become a burden or worry their family. However, experts advise that even if your parent is not expressing a need for more help, there are signs to look for that indicate they need it.
Michael Perskin, a geriatrician at NYU Langone Health explains that, “Sometimes you’re shocked when you visit.” He adds it is troubling if “you walk into a parent’s house and the bathrooms are dirty or there’s no food in the refrigerator.” Other signs include weight loss and a general decline in their appearance. Often older adults in need of more care can no longer safely bath themselves and their health problems can make dressing difficult. Driving can also become a problem for seniors and evidence of scrapes and dents on their car may indicate they should not be driving anymore. For other seniors, failing eyesight can make driving at night or in rainy or snowy weather difficult and can result in missed doctor appointments or not able to buy groceries and run errands. At MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, our expertise is to fill in the gaps and provide the level of care you or your loved needs. Our Life Enrichment and Care Services play an important role in making our community one of the best assisted living facilities Colorado Springs offers. Residents enjoy a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community that includes three daily nutritious meals, the opportunity to participate in a range of activities and wellness programs, and to enjoy ready-made companionship. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of our residents, we have 24/7 care managers, a full-time nurse, suites equipped with handicapped-accessible bathrooms and emergency call systems. We encourage you to visit our website and use our online form to set up a tour of our gorgeous, loving community. The unique mission statement of MorningStar at Mountain Shadows, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other assisted living facilities Colorado Springs offers. Our foundation is built upon honoring God, valuing all seniors, and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve. Dedicated to creating a real home for residents within a beautiful setting, we encourage you to see for yourself our exceptional community. Source:health.usnews.com/senior-care/caregiving/articles/2018-02-09/what-are-the-signs-your-aging-parents-need-help From time to time, there have been serious accidents involving elderly drivers that reach the nation’s attention and reopens the debate regarding the age that elderly adults should stop driving. While some states have implemented stricter rules for seniors renewing their driver’s license, many states have met resistance or have had a hard time coming to a consensus. It is hard to assess a senior’s fitness for driving as each person is different and health problems vary immensely. One good thing is that many seniors start to self-regulate their driving habits once they notice problems.
Experts say if you have become concerned over your parent’s fitness to drive, you need to start a conversation with them. If you think they can still handle limited driving with some restrictions, talk to them about setting up rules such as avoiding major highways and rush hour, driving only in daylight and during good weather. Remind them that this will help keep them safe as well as others who share the road with them. If they have had fender benders and are having trouble following traffic signals, it may be time for them to stop driving altogether before they hurt themselves or others. However if this is the case, be sure to have some plans in place for alternative transportation. MorningStar at Jordan Creek offers compassionate assisted living for Des Moines seniors; and provides all of the services and amenities required for their comfort, wellbeing and safety. This includes scheduled transportation to doctor visits as well as shopping trip to area stores. We routinely take field trips to local culture events, museums, parks, and more such as this month’s Memorial Day Bus Tour and a drive through Water Works. Please visit our website to learn more about our community, and while you are there, use our links to set up a tour and to ask about availability and pricing. MorningStar at Jordan Creek proudly provides the very best in senior living with our unique mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we create a true home for residents amid a beautiful setting. Please schedule a tour to see firsthand the finest senior living in Des Moines. |
Offering a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community, MorningStar is committed to giving residents a quality of life surpassing that of other senior living communities. To experience firsthand the finest in senior living, contact us to schedule a tour. Archives
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