Helping Hands: Helping Hands: Medication AidsMedication Aids

Managing medications Managing medications can be challenging…can be challenging…

Especially if there are issues related to… – Frequency of administration– Number of medications– Visual limitations– Cognition– Dexterity

The aging process can The aging process can complicate one’s ability to complicate one’s ability to manage medications.manage medications.

List some of the health problems that may make medication

managementdifficult for older adults.

Each of these conditions presents with some kind of difficulty with …

•reading medicine bottles•opening bottles•remembering when to take medications

Were any of the Were any of the following on your list?following on your list?

Peripheral neuropathy

Macular degeneration

Arthritis Cataracts Hemiplegia Parkinsonism Alzheimer's

Remember the Person-Remember the Person-Environment Fit Environment Fit Model?Model?

reading medicine bottles

opening bottles remembering

when to take medications

Changes in Personal Competence

increasing number of medications

small print med labels

decreased availability of assistance

Increased Environmental Press

The person-environment fit model can help with the selection of the most appropriate tool to manage medications.

Remember, the goal is a balance between personal competence and environmental press so the individual can function at his or her maximum level of independence.

Many older adults find the Many older adults find the childproof caps difficult to childproof caps difficult to open.open.

The challenge is the coordination, strength, and dexterity necessary to open the bottle.

Those with arthritis benefit from Those with arthritis benefit from having the pharmacy turn the having the pharmacy turn the childproof cap around so the bottle childproof cap around so the bottle cap can be twisted off easily.cap can be twisted off easily.

However, caution should be taken if children are in the home.The twist top bottles are no longer child resistant.

Medication organizers can help an older adult manage complex medication regimens by providing a tool to increase personal competence while managing higher environmental press.

But medication organizers are But medication organizers are not all alike…not all alike…

So, how do you choose?

Choosing a medication Choosing a medication organizerorganizer

Assess– Dexterity of client– Visual acuity of client – Cognitive ability– Client’s daily routine– Number of medications– Frequency of medication

administration

7-Day organizer, 7-Day organizer, four slots for each day.four slots for each day.

Clear box, room for small tablets and capsules

Open one slot at a time and turn over to dispense medications

Not good for larger medications (calcium, potassium)

Pills go in the tray

Open the sliding door for Open the sliding door for the day and time and the day and time and turn over turn over

These single slot boxes These single slot boxes work well for…work well for…

Vitamins Supplements (calcium, fiber tablets) Daily medications Twice daily medications (e.g., white box for

morning meds and blue box for bedtime meds)

*Note the letter contrast between the boxes, which one is the easiest to read?

Weekly/Daily Medication Weekly/Daily Medication

OrganizerOrganizer

This medication organizer is inexpensive, covers a week, and has 4 slots for each day.

This one is good for the very independent individual who needs to take lunchtime or afternoon pills while out of the house.

However, if dropped, However, if dropped, problems could problems could result…result…

if the medications vary from day to day (Coumadin for example)

if visually unable to return dropped boxes correctly on the holder (could be replaced upside-down)

AM or PM ?

Medication management Medication management can be extremely can be extremely challenging.challenging.

When possible, see if number of medications can be reduced

Have a sample of medication aids and see which ones are easy for the individual to use

Assess client’s usual routine to coordinate medication administration

Once a day medications don’t always have to be given in the morning, some can be taken at noon (too many medications at one time can interfere with one’s appetite)

Caregiver assistanceCaregiver assistance

Medication organizers provide…– a way to set medications up for a

week at a time– a reminder for calling in refills– a way to check what medications

might not be taken routinely

If traveling, If traveling, remind older adults to remind older adults to take…take…

their medication organizer

their prescription bottles

Written prescriptions in case of lost medications

Helping Hands: Medication Aids Helping Hands: Medication Aids was created by Catherine Van Son, was created by Catherine Van Son, Ph.D., R.N. for the Older Adult Ph.D., R.N. for the Older Adult Focus Project, OHSU School of Focus Project, OHSU School of Nursing.Nursing.