12 Tips to Manage Medications

Properly managing your medications is an integral part of your overall health and wellness, especially for seniors. Cognitive impairments can make medication management increasingly difficult and errors may have serious consequences, which makes this an overwhelming activity for many people. Occupational therapists are experts in working with individuals to analyze this activity of daily living and come up with strategies and techniques to help people maintain independence in this area.

Here are 12 tips to help you manage your medications.

  1. Always have a list of your current medications on hand for medical providers and in the event of an emergency. 
  2. Familiarize yourself with the name, dosage, frequency, side effects, why the medication was prescribed, and what symptoms the medication treats. 
  3. Always check with your physician before making any changes to your medications. 
  4. Ask your pharmacist or physician if you have any questions about your medications, including side effects or drug interactions. 
  5. Use one pharmacy to manage all of your medications to avoid any potential medication interactions. 
  6. Consider using a medication minder or pill box. These come in single-dose or multi-dose boxes and in weekly or monthly boxes. 
  7. Some pharmacies offer a service to prepackage your medications by dose and day in a bubble pack for you, eliminating the need for pill bottles, medication minders, or pill boxes.
  8. Automatic pill dispensers are available. These devices sort and distribute your medications for you. 
  9. If you have difficulty opening your medication bottles and you do not have children or pets in your household who can get into your medications, ask your pharmacy for “easy off” medication containers that do not have the child lock feature. Most pharmacies offer this option. 
  10. Use your cell phone to set reminders or alarms to help you remember to take your medications on time. 
  11. Place your medications in a location that will act as a visual reminder to take them such as the kitchen table, the bathroom, or on your bedside table. Make sure to always keep your medications out of reach of small children or pets. 
  12. Consider taking your medications prior to or immediately after another daily ritual such as a meal. 

If you or a loved one need additional strategies to master your activities of daily living and maintain independence, occupational therapy may be right for you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Share This Post:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
RehaBlog

More Posts

Backpack Safety

Backpacks are a convenient way for students to carry around their schoolbooks and supplies throughout the day, but using them incorrectly can lead to serious muscle and joint injuries. Carrying a heavy load can strain the shoulders, back, and neck. As a result, the body tries to compensate by leaning forward or sideways, which can lead to misalignment of the spine and weakening of muscles.

Managing and Preventing Incontinence with Physical Therapy

More than 25 million adult Americans suffer from incontinence. Men and women are often embarrassed to seek treatment for loss of bladder or bowel control. Urinary and fecal incontinence can cause low self-esteem, create social isolation, and impair quality of life. Incontinence is the lack of voluntary control over urination or defecation. There are two major types of incontinence and they are treated differently.

Reduce Pain With These 5 Exercises for Knee Osteoarthritis

According to the American Physical Therapy Association, approximately 14 million people in the United States have symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Over time, the cartilage on the bones that form our knees begins to wear away; this causes inflammation, which we refer to as osteoarthritis. As the disease progresses, it can affect surrounding muscle, tendon, and ligaments, therefore, contributing to significant pain and dysfunction.

Occupational Therapy Interventions for Spinal Cord Injury: Innovative Upper Extremity Weight-Bearing Recovery

When you think of body weight support systems in physical rehab, walking probably comes to mind first. But did you know this technology can also transform arm, shoulder, and core recovery after a spinal cord injury? This high-intensity training helps build upper body strength, manage spasticity, improve posture, and boost overall endurance! Learn how we use advanced body weight support technology at Sheltering Arms Institute to help patients safely practice arm weight-bearing and how innovative technology is changing SCI therapy.

How Speech Therapy Can Help Your Cognition

After a stroke or brain injury, everyday thinking skills like memory, attention, and planning can feel overwhelming. Because these skills directly support how we communicate, SLPs use targeted strategies to help patients regain confidence and daily independence. Learn how cognitive-communication therapy can help.

Start your Journey

Learn more about Sheltering Arms Institute

Contact a specialist at Sheltering Arms Institute to learn more about how you can gain more freedom in your everyday life.