5 Tips to Help Loved Ones Manage Their Medications

Most Landmark patients are prescribed 10 to 15 medications, which can be challenging to manage. As a caregiver, making sure your loved one takes medications properly is essential to their health. Here are five tips to organize and track medications.

1. Organize all medications in one place

Keeping prescribed and over-the-counter medications and supplements in one area will set your loved one up for success. When medications are in different areas of the home, it may be difficult to find them or remember where they are located.

Store all medications in one area such as a clear plastic bin. This will lower your risk of misplacing a medication. This will also allow you to easily locate expired medications that need to be thrown away.

2. Prepare pills for each week

Pill organizers are a great way to organize medications for each week. There are pill organizers available with up to 28 compartments – four doses for seven days of the week. This allows you to easily organize which medications should be taken in the morning, afternoon and evening.

3. Use a medication tracker

Medications can be tracked on paper or digitally. You can use a weekly log like this one, and check medications off throughout the day. Keep this near the medication so it’s easy to remember to track.

Smartphone apps like Medisafe Medication Management allow you to track medications on your phone. You can set reminders on the app that alert you or your loved one at the time medication needs to be taken.

It is also helpful for your loved one to have a printed list of all their medications and how they take them in their wallet or purse. It is often difficult to remember, so this can be helpful during an office visit or an emergency.

4. Store medication properly

It is important to store a medication properly. Most medications need to be stored in a cool, dry place. Moisture and extreme temperatures can impact how a medication works, so medications should not be stored in the bathroom.  Some prescriptions must be stored in the refrigerator. Consult your loved one’s pharmacist if you have any questions on how to store a medication. Remember to keep medication out of reach from pets and children.

5. Stay on top of refills

Running out of a medication can impact your loved one’s health. Contact your loved one’s pharmacy when medications with available refills are running low or to see if you can get the medication refilled automatically. If your loved one is out of refills, it is best to contact their pharmacist and their prescriber to find out if a refill is needed.

It is important  to plan ahead as some medications may take time to become available. 90-day supplies, delivery services and mail order pharmacies are helpful solutions if you or your loved one have trouble getting to the pharmacy every month.