Tips for Helping a Senior Comply with Medication Regimens

Did you know that just over half of seniors don't follow medication instructions by their doctors? With that statistic, it should come as little surprise that adverse reactions to medications send hundreds of thousands of seniors to the hospital each year. AgingCare explains why elderly patients might not comply with doctor's orders, and what caregivers can do.

Issue: Poor vision makes it impossible to read labels (or tell pills apart).

Solution: Get labels in large print. Just ask your pharmacist.

Issue: Dementia and/or poor memory lead to skipped doses or accidental overdoses.

Solution: Portion medications using a pill organizer.

Issue: Dysphagia makes swallowing pills difficult, painful, or impossible.

Solution: Ask your loved one's doctor or pharmacist if the medication is available in liquid form. NEVER crush a pill without first speaking to your loved one's doctor or pharmacist!

AgingCare offers additional problems and solutions. As with most things in life, communication is key! Find out why your loved one is unable or unwilling to take their medications, then contact their medical team to come up with a solution.

For further information, visit AgingCare here: https://ow.ly/UVeT30mr7fm

?Has your elderly loved one ever ignored prescription directions? How did you cope? Share your experiences with us in the comments!