Mitigating the Risk of Falls in Older Loved Ones with a Medication Review
What springs to mind when you think about reducing the risk of falls for older loved ones? Adding more lighting? Getting rid of clutter along with other tripping hazards? Keeping the floors clean and dry? These are all crucial elements of preventing falls in the home, but there’s another common cause to keep in mind: medication […]
Questions to Pose to the Pharmacist About a New Prescription for an Older Loved One
You’ve just left the physician’s office with Mom. The doctor is sending over a brand new prescription to the drug store which should be ready when you get there. Your plan is to zip through the drive-through window, get the meds, and take Mom to lunch. However, you are missing an important step. Any time you’re […]
Tips to Overcome Medication Refusal in Older Adults
“I don’t need that medicine! There’s nothing wrong with me!” If you’ve heard an older relative proclaim this or any other sentiment to justify not taking the medication their doctor prescribed, you understand how frustrating and concerning it is. There are a lot of reasons that contribute to medication refusal in older adults, from denial […]
Older Adults Often Don’t Report Adverse Medication Side Effects
Anyone who has taken prescription medicine understands that it typically includes a thorough listing of potential negative effects to watch for. Even though prescriptions are, admittedly, intended to help us, the danger that may result from these adverse reactions can often be more severe than the benefit we gain. For older adults, almost all of […]