Strategies to Try if Aging Parents Don’t Take Prescribed Medicines

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Tips to Try if Aging Parents Don't Take Prescribed Medicines in Montgomery, AL

Seniors sometimes refuse to take their medication for a variety of different reasons. Some may claim they’ve never needed medicine before and won’t start taking it now. Others may say it makes them feel worse. Figuring out why your aging loved one won’t take his or her medication is important, and these strategies can help him or her get on board with following the treatment plan.

Pick Your Battles

When your loved one refuses to take medication, you might need to decide what matters the most. Focusing on the most important medications helps you concentrate your efforts where they will have the greatest impact. This might mean letting your loved one skip a daily vitamin for the time being, provided he or she eats a nutritious diet so you can focus on getting him or her to take heart medicine.

For some families, caring for a senior loved one can be overwhelming at times. Luckily, they can rely on professional respite care. Montgomery, AL, Home Care Assistance is a trusted name in respite and hourly care. Our caregivers are available around the clock to assist seniors with bathing, transportation, medication reminders, exercise, and much more, allowing families the time they need to focus on other important responsibilities or just take a break.

Ask the Doctor to Discuss the Importance

Your loved one might still be in denial about his or her health condition, or he or she may not think the medication will work. Having the doctor explain why the medication was prescribed can shift your loved one’s mindset. This strategy also tends to work well because many older adults view their doctors as authority figures, which might cause them to respond differently compared to how they would with their adult children.

For seniors who want to stay healthy, it’s important that they take their medications as prescribed by their physicians. Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Montgomery elder care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.

Check for Unpleasant Side Effects

It’s always possible your loved one is actually feeling negative effects from the medicine. Many medications cause queasiness, fatigue, or dizziness. Track your loved one’s symptoms to see if there’s a pattern that indicates he or she might be experiencing unwanted side effects. If so, talk to the doctor. Your loved one might be able to change to a similar type of medication or use other strategies to ease the discomfort.

Watch Your Reaction

After a couple of battles, you might instinctively tense up as you approach your loved one with medication. Try to remember that he or she picks up on your cues. Creating a sense of normalcy around taking medicine can help your loved one stop feeling so upset about it. If you find a way to make medicine easier to take, such as changing the flavor, make it a big deal. Your loved one might get excited about trying something new when he or she picks up on your enthusiasm.

Make Taking Medication Easier

Adjusting to a new lifestyle habit is often challenging for someone who enjoys freedom. Your loved one might simply forget to take medicine when he or she is engrossed in a favorite activity. Set up a schedule that links taking the medication to a normal part of the daily routine, such as getting dressed in the morning. Putting a caregiver in charge of this part of the day can also help. Once it requires very little thought, your loved one might decide that taking medication isn’t so difficult after all.

At-home care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Home Care Assistance are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call us at (334) 593-3988 today to talk to one of our compassionate Care Managers about our high-quality home care services.

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