Orchestrating multiple prescriptions, dosages, and time schedules can be overwhelming for family caregivers. This stress is amplified when this changes frequently or when the one being cared for struggles with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia because they may become hostile or resistant to taking their medication. Without proper training, this resistance can feel hopeless as family caregivers try desperately to take good care of their loved ones but feel they cannot do enough on their own.
The added emotional and physical strain of medication management can quickly add to caregiver burnout, which has negative effects on both the caregiver and care recipient. To help alleviate this burden, professional medication management in a memory care community can ensure your loved one is safely and consistently taken care of. This way, you can focus on enjoying time with your loved one again, knowing they are in the care of highly trained professionals in a Middletown, NJ memory care community.
How Is Medication Managed In a Memory Care Community?
Highly trained professionals follow strict protocols to ensure accuracy and safety. They work closely with the rest of the care team to coordinate schedules and keep track of all taken or refused doses. They also ensure that residents are monitored to measure the effectiveness of medication and to note any side effects. Certified care specialists may even communicate with health providers when appropriate to share their findings or report anything concerning.
What Are The Risks of Mismanaged Medication?
The risk of forgetting medication, using incorrect doses, or mistiming doses increases significantly with cognitive decline. Even with using divided pill boxes and automated timers, managing medication at home can become difficult in the long term. Whether seniors are administering medication on their own or with the help of a trusted family caregiver, this task can still be daunting without professional training.
Missed doses or overdoses can have severe side effects, potentially leading to hospitalization. At the same time, potential side effects could easily go unnoticed if caregivers do not know what to look for or if seniors are left on their own and are not familiar with what the side effects may be. Furthermore, if medications that should not be mixed are accidentally taken together negative effects could also occur, possibly without being detected which could lead to more serious and long-term issues.
If cognitive decline has caused your loved one to have trouble swallowing, it may be necessary to take medication in a more nontraditional way. This could include crushing up pills, taking pills with yogurt or applesauce, or switching to a liquid version. Before implementing any of these changes it is essential to first discuss them with a health care provider as some medications may not behave the same way if they are altered in any way.
What Are The Benefits of Professional Medication Management?
Having a structured medication management program can improve a resident’s overall well-being, cognitive function, and comfort. Professionals are trained in how to track the effectiveness of medication, monitor for side effects, and carefully track when doses are taken to ensure accuracy. This can also prevent hospitalizations caused by missed doses or adverse drug interactions. By ensuring that medication is stored, administered, and monitored properly, both staff and residents can benefit from increased safety.
All of this also removes a stressful burden from at-home caregivers who, although well-intentioned, have not been formally trained. Juggling constant medication lists can be tiresome, especially as cognitive decline progresses. It can feel hopeless and exasperating without proper training to deal with stressful situations like when a loved one refuses to take their medicine because they thought they already took it but, in reality, have not yet. The personal emotional toll can quickly lead to burnout which also decreases one’s ability to properly care for their loved one. Professional medication management allows loved ones to remain more neutral in this process, relieving stress and allowing them to focus on enjoying positive interactions together instead.
It is important to note that not all memory care communities are the same. To ensure the best fit for your loved one, it is important to thoroughly evaluate them, including how they engage residents and the quality of staff, before committing. Read our list of key factors to consider when evaluating staff at a Middletown, NJ memory care community.
How To Find the Best Professional Care For Your Loved One Living With Alzheimer’s or Dementia
The search for the ideal memory care community can be exhausting, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s important to thoroughly evaluate your options; however, this can be time-consuming and mentally taxing. That’s why we’ve created a resource to help guide you through the process and simplify your search.
Take the next step toward finding the peace of mind you’ve been longing for with our free guide Comparing Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Options. Here, you’ll find essential questions to consider, a comprehensive list of available options, and much more. Download your copy today.
