As we age, managing a growing list of medications can shift from a daily routine to a source of stress. While the medications are vital for our health and well-being, managing them can be challenging and may require support from a care partner to ensure they’re taken correctly, identify side effects, and minimize dosing errors.
The way our bodies process medications changes as we age, and it is important to understand how they interact with other medications, vitamins, supplements, and daily routines.
Care partners often understand the weight of the responsibility, but are not formally trained in medication management, making it difficult to track schedules, organize pills, and identify side effects.
Researchers Tejal Patel, PharmD, Schlegel Specialist in Medication Management and Aging, Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging, and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo, and Karyman Ghanem, MSc, University of Waterloo, worked with care partners to develop the Problem Solving Medication Management: A Workbook for Care Partners. The toolkit provides solutions to challenges and concerns care partners encounter related to medication management and aims to decrease their stress.
The Care Partner Checklist
Helping someone manage their medication requires a mix of organization and advocacy. Here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly:
- Speak to your pharmacist or doctor to learn more about the medications.
- Keep a digital or printed list of every medication, including the dosage, prescribing doctor, and reason for the medication.
- Take note of sudden changes, such as confusion, dizziness, and changes in appetite, and share them with your pharmacist or doctor. These could be medication side effects.
- Introduce pill organizers or blister packs to simplify medication scheduling and adherence.
- Check if the pharmacy offers refill reminders, so you never miss a refill.
For more information and strategies to improve medication management, download the Medication Management Workbook for Care Partners.