Medication management tips, safety, and how you can best manage your medication.
Moms, or even Dads, who forget to take their medications should not feel as though their forgetfulness is something too unusual, or if they should consider accepting Pariah status, Heaven forbid.
Even those of us who are perfectionists, even in our 80s, sometimes forget to take those all-important medications. I take a total of at least 14 pills (meds) a day to control, among other ailments, Type-2 Diabetes; high blood pressure (hypertension); Chronic Lymphocytic: Leukemia (under control, I’m happy to state, thanks to the meds); Neuropathy, and more. Sometimes I feel like a walking pharmacy! I'm certain you can possibly identify with that unenviable description, too. Regardless, all the prescribed and over-the-counter meds many of us are taking are either helping us live more healthful lives or elongating our years via the wonderful breakthroughs that have developed to amplify our quality and length of life.
Regardless, as we age and not necessarily because of dementia, some of us DO sometimes forget to take our meds. If it happens once in a long while (the case for yours truly), one missed dose should not be taken with the next dose. That's the advice from my wife who during her early work years, was employed at the Minneapolis VA Hospital and learned considerable information about patients who were on enough multiple meds that missing one scheduled intake would not be life-threatening. Missing the meds on a recurring basis could be.
Respectfully, following is the regimen to which I subscribe daily to not miss the very necessary meds I ingest:
1. Keep the compartmentalized meds container on the kitchen counter 24/7/365 reminding me it's there to help me remember to take the pills contained in each day-part "compartment" (for breakfast, evening dinnertime and bedtime).
2. Leave the meds container on the kitchen counter at the very same spot, as a constant reminder.
3. If for some reason a dosage is missed, just skip that dosage, as previously suggested and resume "full speed" with the next scheduled intake.
Obviously, my suggestions are strictly based on the regimen I've been following for many years. Hopefully they may serve as a successful guideline to you, your Mom, Dad or any relative or loved one who shouldn't be forgetting taking those all-important meds.
If you find you or a loved one is needing more help with their medications, please visit Fairview Lifeline for medication dispensers.
Thank you for reading, as always.
Barry ZeVan
Moms, or even Dads, who forget to take their medications should not feel as though their forgetfulness is something too unusual, or if they should consider accepting Pariah status, Heaven forbid.
Even those of us who are perfectionists, even in our 80s, sometimes forget to take those all-important medications. I take a total of at least 14 pills (meds) a day to control, among other ailments, Type-2 Diabetes; high blood pressure (hypertension); Chronic Lymphocytic: Leukemia (under control, I’m happy to state, thanks to the meds); Neuropathy, and more. Sometimes I feel like a walking pharmacy! I'm certain you can possibly identify with that unenviable description, too. Regardless, all the prescribed and over-the-counter meds many of us are taking are either helping us live more healthful lives or elongating our years via the wonderful breakthroughs that have developed to amplify our quality and length of life.
Regardless, as we age and not necessarily because of dementia, some of us DO sometimes forget to take our meds. If it happens once in a long while (the case for yours truly), one missed dose should not be taken with the next dose. That's the advice from my wife who during her early work years, was employed at the Minneapolis VA Hospital and learned considerable information about patients who were on enough multiple meds that missing one scheduled intake would not be life-threatening. Missing the meds on a recurring basis could be.
Respectfully, following is the regimen to which I subscribe daily to not miss the very necessary meds I ingest:
1. Keep the compartmentalized meds container on the kitchen counter 24/7/365 reminding me it's there to help me remember to take the pills contained in each day-part "compartment" (for breakfast, evening dinnertime and bedtime).
2. Leave the meds container on the kitchen counter at the very same spot, as a constant reminder.
3. If for some reason a dosage is missed, just skip that dosage, as previously suggested and resume "full speed" with the next scheduled intake.
Obviously, my suggestions are strictly based on the regimen I've been following for many years. Hopefully they may serve as a successful guideline to you, your Mom, Dad or any relative or loved one who shouldn't be forgetting taking those all-important meds.
If you find you or a loved one is needing more help with their medications, please visit Fairview Lifeline for medication dispensers.
Thank you for reading, as always.
Barry ZeVan
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