Medication errors are a growing concern for your loved ones in 55+ communities. Taking the wrong medication, taking the wrong dose, or missing doses altogether can have tremendous consequences on their health. If not taken correctly and as directed, you or your loved ones may experience adverse effects from their medications, such as confusion or dizziness. Fortunately, there are ways that 55+ communities in Indianapolis, IN, can help reduce the risks of medication errors.
Sorts out the Medicines in Advance
Medication errors are a growing concern as the population ages and depend on more medications for their care. With 55+ communities now involved in sorting out medications ahead of time, we are seeing an effort to prevent these errors from occurring.
Members of the community work with medical professionals and pharmacists to ensure that all medications are properly sorted out and set up on a schedule that works best for the resident and their caregivers.
By doing this, they are making it easier to track what medication needs to be taken each day, helping reduce the risk of dangerous drug interactions or incorrect dosages. This also helps your loved ones remember when they need to take their medication if their memory fails.
Trained Team Members
Medication errors occur when a resident is given the wrong drug, dosage, or time for taking it. These mistakes can be life-threatening and cost millions of dollars in healthcare costs each year. To help reduce this risk, 55+ communities in Indianapolis, IN, have now implemented trained teams to identify and prevent medication errors.
These team members are fully equipped with medical backgrounds and experience to take on this important task. They provide personalized support by visiting residents in their center to ensure that all medications are taken as prescribed by their doctor. In addition, they will also communicate with doctors and pharmacies regarding questions about medications that arise from residents or family members.
Provides Educational Sessions
As our loved ones age, they often require more medication to maintain their health and well-being. The professional teams at 55+ communities provide knowledge regarding the side effects and dangers of overmedication to help prevent costly mistakes.
These communities help to provide education on topics such as why medications may need to be modified as one ages and how certain interactions between drugs can cause harm. With these resources available, your loved ones have access to a vast array of information that helps them make informed decisions about their medication regimens.
This includes understanding when it is appropriate to take a lower dosage than prescribed or when multiple prescriptions may not suit an individual’s situation.
Maintains a List of Medications
55+ communities in Indianapolis, IN maintain a comprehensive list of all medications taken by their residents. This can be done by having each resident’s doctor, pharmacy, and other healthcare providers provide detailed information about their medication.
The list includes names, doses, forms, and frequency. Keeping this information up-to-date will help reduce the risk of potential drug interactions or incorrect doses, which could have serious consequences for elderly residents. By providing regular medication reviews with healthcare professionals, any changes or adjustments made over time can be noted and updated on the list, ensuring it remains accurate and up-to-date.
