At a senior living community, medication management is often one of the most important tasks for caregivers. Missed doses, medication mix-ups, and improper use of medications can be dangerous — even life threatening.
Nearly 90% of seniors take one or more prescription drugs, with many combining those prescriptions with over-the-counter supplements and medications. Even simple mix-ups can have adverse effects on health. That’s why medication management is such an important consideration while evaluating potential assisted living options.
A reliable system is essential to ensure that everyone takes medications and supplements according to their doctors’ instructions. At Judson Meadows, we include medication management in every level of provided care to help keep our residents safe and healthy.
What is Medication Management?
Medication management is a strategy that ensures residents achieve the best possible health outcomes from taking their medications.
The umbrella term describes the process of overseeing medications to ensure medications are taken properly. It’s a strategy that focuses on medication safety, including:
- Compliance with medication instructions
- Preventing drug interactions
- Detecting drug allergies
- Educating residents
The practice also includes medication administration to ensure the right medication is given to the right resident at the right time and at the right dosage.
In an assisted living environment, nurses and aids may use medication carts to distribute medications throughout the community. Additionally, the community maintains records that include each resident’s diagnoses, medications, allergies, special directions, and doctors’ orders.
Medication management strategies typically dictate how medicine is stored, dispensed, and administered. Safe disposal of unused or discontinued medications and accurate record keeping are also important aspects.
Why is Medication Management Important?
Not taking medications properly increases the risk of health problems. For many people, it’s all too easy to forget whether they took their medications. Other common mistakes include taking the wrong amount, misreading directions on bottles, and mixing up medications or confusing it with supplements that create negative side effects.
Consistent, proper use of medications is the key to enjoying the intended health benefits. No matter how effective a medication could be, it won’t work properly if it’s not taken correctly.
Many seniors find that trying to remember everything about their medications is overwhelming yet failing to remember can be downright harmful. Medication management, particularly in assisted living communities, helps relieve the burden on residents so they can enjoy their days without worrying about their medications.
Judson Meadows’ Approach to Medication Management
Each assisted living community approaches medication management uniquely. At Judson Meadows, we provide medication management according to our residents’ level of care and overall needs.
For example, we assist with self-administration and provide reminders about prescription refills and other medication details for Level One residents.
Levels Two and Three residents are personally assisted with their medications, and they are helped to manage medication storage to help ensure residents correctly take their medications, as prescribed, and stay on track with their health goals.
At every level, we approach medication management with dedication and diligence to provide the highest possible quality care to every resident. Benefits of our approach include:
- Reduced medication errors for more effective, safer treatments
- Enhanced outcomes for residents through targeted care
- Greater peace of mind for residents and their families
