When it’s time for your elderly loved one to take his or her prescribed medication, there are a few challenges you or other family caregivers may face. Here are some of the top reasons seniors refuse their medication and tips on how to get them to take it.
1. Bad Taste
If your loved one dislikes how the medicine tastes, find out if the medication can be taken with food or beverages. If so, mash the pills up with food or pour the liquid medication into a small amount of juice or milk. This may mask the bad taste long enough for your loved one to take the medication. If the medication cannot be taken with food, your loved one could place the pill on the back of his or her tongue and swallow it down with a large glass of water.
2. Negative Side Effects
Some medications could cause your loved one to feel drowsy or have a stomachache. If this is the case, consult with a physician to see if there are alternative medications your loved one can take. The doctor may also have some tips on alleviating the side effects and possibly preventing similar issues going forward.
Senior care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
3. Denial about Their Medical Conditions
After being diagnosed with a disease, your loved one may be in denial and refuse to take any medications to treat the condition because he or she thinks it’s a waste of time. Speak with your loved one and explain the medication was prescribed to make him or her feel better and eliminate the disease or slow its progression. You can also have a doctor or therapist speak with your loved one and explain the seriousness of taking the medications as well as the many benefits the medicine could have when taken correctly.
For seniors who want to stay healthy, it’s important that they take their medications as prescribed by their physicians. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading provider of home care Potomac families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
4. Forgetfulness
As your loved one ages, he or she may experience memory loss. As a result, your loved one may lose track of his or her medications, which can be dangerous. Here are some of the ways you can help your loved one remember to take medications:
- Purchase medication management devices
- Ask the doctor to consolidate the medications
- Use pill organizers
- Set alarm reminders on smartphones and tablets that go off when it’s time to take the medications
- Hire a caregiver to provide reminders
Living with serious health conditions can make it challenging for seniors to age in place. However, they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional live-in care. Potomac seniors can benefit from assistance with meal prep, bathing, transportation to the doctor’s office, medication reminders, and much more. For compassionate, reliable in-home care, trust the experienced professionals from Assisting Hands Home Care. Reach out to one of our dedicated Care Managers today to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.
