Medication Management

4 Steps to Medication Management: A Modern Challenge for Senior Care

Medications are important components in effective senior care, and they can extend the lives of individuals significantly when properly used. However, when not properly managed, medications can interact with one another, can exacerbate other health conditions, and can become a major challenge for senior care professionals, including doctors, nurses, and even families who take care of their loved ones.

Effectively managing medication can be a bit difficult, especially when you or a loved one are on several different medications or have been prescribed several different doses of the same medication. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, approaching the challenge in an organized fashion is the best way to ensure that your medications, or those of your loved one, are properly managed.

1.       Create a master list of all medications currently in use. Include the medication name, dosage, date prescribed, doctor who prescribed it, and phone number of the doctor. Additionally, include contact information for the pharmacy at which these medications have been filled. This will allow healthcare professionals to know exactly what has been taken and prevent them from prescribing something that may cause an adverse reaction.

2.       To the master list, add as many past medications as possible. Though you may not have all of the information available for these prescriptions, it may help to simply have them noted.

3.       Take notes pertaining to reactions to medications and whether or not they were effective. Doing so may point doctors in the right direction when considering writing a new prescription. These notes can be added to the master list.

4.       Use a weekly pill organizer to sort medications on a set day every week. Doing so will ensure that no pills are skipped or taken twice.

Medication management can be extremely difficult, especially if there are several different prescriptions involved, but by staying organized this challenge can be overcome. Eventually, you will fall into a routine with your medication or the medication of your loved one and will be able to easily maintain the orderly approach that you have adopted. By doing so, you can allow medications to do what they were designed to do: improve life. 

For more information on implementing medication management techniques, contact the professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill-Durham at 919-357-1440 or visit our website at www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com.

Home Safety for the Elderly

6 Tips to Keep Your Elderly Loved One's Home Safe

If you have elderly loved ones, then you understand the importance of keeping them safe. Chapel Hill is home to Always Best Care, which provides senior care in Orange County. Deciding whether or not your loved one is safe living on their own can be difficult, but knowing that they are being taken care of by home care professionals can make it easier. To increase your peace of mind, and ensure that your elderly loved one is as safe as possible, you can also follow these six tips to keep their home free of potential hazards.

1. Tidy cords. Extension cords, wires leading to a desktop computer, and even the cords belonging to lamps, the television, and small kitchen appliances can become dangerous if they are not in proper condition or kept out of the way. Inspect all cords and replace any that may be worn or damaged. If they are strung across a walkway or are in a position that could cause someone to trip and fall, move them.
2. Check all rugs. Tripping and falling over slippery rugs is a common way in which elderly individuals are hurt. Ensure that all rugs in the house are slip-resistant and that their ends lie flat. If a rug is too worn or poses a threat, replace it.
3. Regularly check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
4. Make sure that all electrical outlets and switches are working properly and are appropriately covered. Exposed wiring can be dangerous.
5. Inspect heat sources, be them space heaters, furnaces, or fireplaces. Ensure that space heaters are in a secure location and will not be knocked over. Likewise, fireplaces and wood burning stoves should be properly cleaned and ventilated.
6. Perform a walkthrough of the house to move any items that may be tripped over or slipped upon. Start in the living room, then inspect the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and any other commonly used space. Look for uneven flooring, obstructed paths, hazardous cords, and dangerous surfaces. Ensure that all areas are properly lit, are slip-resistant, and have adequate hand rails if necessary.

You may be worried about your elderly loved one living at home, but by keeping your loved one's home free from these hazards, and by entrusting Always Best Care in Chapel Hill with the responsibility of providing senior care (www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com), you can have peace of mind and your family member can continue to live in the home they love.

Getting Mom off the Road

Does Your Elderly Loved One Need to Stop Driving? 5 Tips to Convince Them to Give Up Their Keys

Driving is a major concern for individuals whose elderly loved ones are still on the road. Always Best Care, in Chapel Hill, understands that it can be extremely difficult to tell your loved one that it is time to give up their keys; however, keeping the residents of Orange County safe is this organization's primary concern. By following these tips, you can request that your loved one stop driving in a way that is sensitive and kind.

1.       Speak to your loved one in private, as initially addressing your concerns in front of others may embarrass your family members. Clearly explain the situation and speak about the issue. Treat the conversation as a discussion, not an ultimatum.

2.       Highlight the fact that, by continuing to drive, your loved one may be putting others into danger. Knowing that they could cause an accident or injury may be enough to convince your loved one that it is time to stop driving.

3.       Stage an intervention. While this may be overwhelming, it is the next step if your loved one refuses to stop driving after your private conversation. For this method to work, it is important that all participants love and care for your family member and that they only want the best for them. Furthermore, the experience must be a positive one, showing love and support, rather than a negative one that forces the ideas of the group onto your elderly loved one.

4.       Contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If a private conversation and an intervention both fail to work, you can report the issue to the DMV. If the issue has become severe enough to make it unlawful for your loved one to drive, the DMV may step in to handle the situation.

5.       Take the keys. If your loved one still insists on driving, and you have exhausted your alternatives, simply take their keys and do not allow them to drive. This may be difficult, emotionally, but if it is done in the best interest of your family then you will be glad you did it.

One of the reasons that many elderly individuals continue to drive is because they do not want to feel isolated in their homes. By assuring your loved one that they will have access to alternative transportation, they may more readily cooperate.

Home care is another way to ease the isolation that one may feel without the ability to drive. At Always Best Care in Chapel Hill, www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com, you will find access to senior care providers who can help. 

Benefits of Home Care

3 Reasons Why Home Care May Be the Best Choice for Seniors

As you get older you will have to make important decisions for yourself and your family. One of the most difficult decisions that people have to make concerns taking care of parents and other elderly loved ones. Senior care is an issue that has generated a great amount of debate over the years, but with increasing home care capabilities, allowing your loved ones to stay in their own homes for as long as possible may be the best option.

Weighing the pros and cons of home care can be overwhelming, but keeping in mind the many benefits of allowing your loved one to stay in their own home is important when making this critical decision. Some of these benefits include:

1. Home care allows seniors to retain their independence. Though senior care may provide help with certain tasks, individuals who are involved in a home care program are able to maintain the dignity of continuing to take care of themselves while benefitting from the services of trained professionals. These professionals are trained to provide care that is useful, thoughtful, and a value to seniors who are looking to maintain an independent lifestyle.
2. Through senior care, you can ensure that your loved one is well taken care of without having to cause a significant change in their household or yours. Many family members try to take care of their parents and other loved seniors, but doing so may cause unnecessary stress on all parties. With home care, you will be able to rest assured that your loved one is safe without having to take away from the stability of either of your homes.
3. Home care can improve the quality of life for seniors. Even seniors who are capable of living alone may benefit from the company and assistance of a senior care provider. The professionals at Always Best Care of Chapel Hill are not just caretakers, they are important parts of their clients' lives. By providing both companionship and non-medical care, they can help seniors stay active, safe, and happy.

When making the decision to invest in home care for your loved one, you are making the decision to allow them to maintain their independence, their dignity, and their home. Though you may feel as though you are not doing enough, personally, to take care of your family member or loved one, remember that, sometimes, allowing someone to lead their own life is the best way to show you love them.

Through professional, attentive services, senior care can provide the assistance that your elderly family member needs to continue to live a life that is both safe and fulfilling. A field that encompasses many different services, you and your loved one can choose the level of care that fits your unique situation's needs. As time goes by, these services can be increased to ensure that your loved one is able to remain independent and well-cared for as long as it is possible for them to stay in their own home.   

Signs of Alzheimers

5 Signs that Your Loved One May Have Alzheimer's Disease

As your loved ones get older, they will start to face new challenges that you may not have predicted. The best way to help them through this time is to educate yourself about the many obstacles they may face as they age. Alzheimer's Disease is a common health problem that can be devastating, but with the right home care your loved one will be able to continue to enjoy a quality lifestyle.

Knowing when to call in help from senior care professionals may be difficult, but if you are aware of these five warning signs that are associated with Alzheimer's Disease, you can make that decision based upon an educated understanding of your loved one's health.

1. Disruptive Memory Loss: Forgetfulness is certainly not an indicator of a serious illness, as people forget small details every day. But disruptive memory loss is a severe problem that can interrupt your loved one's life. Individuals who have Alzheimer's Disease may first experience a loss of recent memory, but the amount of information that they cannot retrieve grows as the illness progresses. Though forgetting names or dates and remembering them later is a common sign of aging, this more severe memory loss may indicate that it is time to consider home care for your loved one.
2. Difficulty Solving Problems and Making Plans: Making errors is human nature, but when your loved one starts making consistent mistakes that lead to unpaid bills, or starts having difficulty following recipes or making plans, then you may want to consider speaking to a doctor. Senior care professionals can help your loved one through planning and problem solving tasks, allowing them to be independent but have assistance with activities that may become challenging.
3. Trouble Finishing Familiar Tasks: If your loved one is having a hard time driving to a location they have visited often, keeping up with their budget, or remembering how to play their favorite game, it may be time to call in home care professionals.
4. Mistaking Time or Location: When elderly individuals start having a difficult time keeping up with the passing of days, it may be a sign of Alzheimer's Disease. Care professionals may need to be called if your loved one gets the days mixed up and cannot seem to get them straight again, even days later.
5. Mood and Personality Changes: Because people who have Alzheimer's Disease may feel confused, frustrated, or anxious, they often experience changes in their mood or personality. While senior care cannot reverse these symptoms, proper care can provide a level of stability that can help your loved one cope in a safe environment.

Recognizing the fact that your elderly loved one may have Alzheimer's Disease is difficult, but by getting help early you can improve their quality of life. Home care is a popular choice, as it allows your loved one to stay in their beloved home and maintain their routine while still benefiting from the assistance of a trained care professional. Always Best Care, located in Chapel Hill, provides access to home care programs that can mean the world to your loved one.  http://www.alwaysbestcarechapelhill-durham.com/