它开始足够简单 - 您的父母或祖父母可能会服用他汀类药物来帮助管理他们的cholesterollevels, or a calcium channel blocker to lower theirblood pressure。但是他们可能需要另一种药物来帮助控制血压药物的副作用。随着时间的流逝，他们可能需要其他药物来治疗其他健康状况，例如甲状腺水平较低或糖尿病, and they may also take vitamins or specialized supplements.
Some pills need to be taken once a day; for others, it’s twice. Some need to be taken on an empty stomach while others work best with food or a full glass of water. Managing all these different medications and their schedules is enough to make your loved one want to give up altogether. But that would be a mistake.
Jaclyn Robinson，医学博士，老年医生旗帜阿尔茨海默氏症研究所in Tucson, said, “It’s important for seniors to keep their medications organized and take them as scheduled, so they minimize interactions between drugs and reduce side effects.”
Why taking medications can be challenging for seniors
A range of issues can make it difficult for seniors to take the medications they are prescribed:
- 他们需要记住在正确的时间服药。
- Their doctor may change their dose or frequency.
- Special instructions could be confusing to follow.
- Pills can look alike.
- Medication names can be difficult to remember or pronounce.
- 药物可能会产生不愉快的副作用。
- 他们不喜欢服用这么多药。
- Taking pills can make them feel full, so they don’t want to eat.
- They don’t see results from medications that don’t take effect right away.
Help your loved one with these seven techniques so you can ensure they are taking all of their medication as directed.
1.使用药物盒或药丸组织者
Boxes or organizers can help seniors take the right medication on the right day and at the right time. Dr. Robinson recommends filling pill boxes every two to four weeks. That way, seniors can better manage their daily routines, reduce the stress associated with organizing their medication, avoid confusion and build confidence, knowing they are taking their medication as directed. Setting alarms and reminders can also help keep seniors stay on schedule with their medication.
2.跟踪所有药物
确保您所爱的人列出了他们要服用的所有药物的清单，并在每位医生的约会，急诊就诊或出院后更新清单。让您所爱的人与他们的初级保健提供者一起评论清单，因为其他提供商可能不会share recordsor changes with their PCP.
3.将空间用于药物管理
理想的是，拥有专门用于药物的空间，例如厨房柜台的一部分。除了药物或药盒外，还可以保留日记帐或记录，您可以在其中检查哪些药物以及何时服用。罗宾逊博士说：“这样，患者和家人可以相信他们在正确的时间服用了正确的药物。”
Have doctors’ names and phone numbers available in this area as well. “If there is any confusion or question about medications, it is better to call the office to clarify and avoid any errors,” Dr. Robinson said.
4. Watch out for “prescribing cascade”
提供者的目标是为患者的最大利益开药。但是有时，药物可能会引起一定的副作用，因此添加了另一种药物来治疗该副作用。然后，该药物可能会产生另一种需要另一种药物的副作用，依此类推。这就是所谓的开处方级联。您所爱的人可以询问他们的医生是否有更新的药物具有更少的副作用来帮助解决这个问题。
5. Recognize that dosages might change with age
Your loved one may have taken the same medication for years. But the aging process affects how the kidneys and liver metabolize medications. So over time, a lower dose of certain medications might be effective.
6. Monitor other medications and products
Ask your loved one what nonprescribed products they are taking. “Older adults are vulnerable to advertisements and claims about certain supplements that frankly may not have any scientific evidence proving they work,” Dr. Robinson said. And even products that work could still cause side effects or interactions with other drugs. Make sure your loved one talks to their provider about:
- 非甾体类抗炎药（NSAIDS）
- Benadryl
- Dramamine
- Sleep aids such as ZzzQuil, or Tylenol PM
- 维生素和矿物质
- Supplements
- CBD或THC
- 烟草或酒精使用 - 酒精会引起肝脏问题，并可以与某些药物相互作用
7. Check in with your loved one about what matters most
Your loved one has their own health care goals and priorities about what makes a difference in their quality of life. Talk to them about what’s important. That way you can talk to health care providers about options for treating conditions less aggressively, with less medication to manage.
痴呆症患者的特殊挑战
People who have memory issues might forget what medications they take, repeat doses, forget to take doses or forget why they need to take their medications. In addition, people with moderate to advanced dementia may get upset about taking their medications and may resist help.
罗宾逊博士说：“对于痴呆症患者来说，拥有良好的护理伙伴或密切支持系统很重要。”“患有痴呆症的人可能会更轻松地感到沮丧或沮丧，因此您必须提出创造性的方法来确保他们按照指示服用药物。”
The bottom line
当你所爱的人变老,他们可能need more prescriptions to help treat their various health conditions. It can be a struggle for them to keep track of all of their medications and to take them as prescribed. You can help them put strategies in place that make it easier and help them stay healthy.
至与医疗保健提供者联系专门治疗老年人的人，接触横幅健康。主頁(欢迎您)
