Premium Elder Care Services | Yodda
According to the latest research, millions of people in India are taking care of older family members or friends. It's important for caregivers to know that mistakes with medications can happen and can be serious, but most of the time, they can be avoided.
The main issue comes from older adults being prescribed multiple medications, and different doctors and pharmacies being involved in their care. On average, seniors take nine prescription drugs a year, and one in four seniors sees four or more different doctors while using three or more pharmacies.
To avoid errors, here are some tips:
Create and maintain a list of all medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Share this list with both the doctor and pharmacist.
Understand how each medication should be taken, be aware of possible side effects, and know how to recognize them. Changes in eyesight, hearing, or endurance could indicate a bad reaction to a medication.
Ask any specialist the patient sees to send a complete medical report, including prescribed drugs, to the primary care doctor.
Seniors also need to decide on the latest prescription drug program. While it offers relief for many seniors with little or no drug coverage, it requires some research to find the best plan.
Consider the following:
Check if the plan covers the current medications and at what cost. Also, think about generic options, as they can be much cheaper. Some plans may even waive the deductible for generic drugs.
Look into the pharmacy network of each plan. If the senior spends time in another state, a national plan might be more suitable. Some plans also offer a mail-order prescription service.
Prioritize patient safety. Choose a plan that includes a drug utilization review program to catch potential errors and provide a safety net.
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