I’m very thankful that I do not have a regular prescription medication regiment and only take vitamins, natural supplements and a low dose aspirin daily. However, this is not the case for most seniors my caregivers and I know and love.
The majority of seniors take at least one prescription medication every day, and many of them have multiple prescriptions to manage. In the case of my grandmother, she took as many as ten different meds each day, several of which were morning and evening. As she became more elderly in her late 80s, vision impairment and challenges with ambulation forced my Mom to double-check on her and her pill boxes twice each day to make sure she had taken the right ones. Grandma did over-medicate once, prompting an urgent brown bag check-up.
Thankfully, Grandma’s doctor examined each of her ten prescriptions and determined she would no longer need to take half of them. Mom and I could tell a big difference in Grandma’s thinking and speaking, and she even regained her ability to move around her house with the help of a walker or cane!
I tell you this story to encourage you and the special seniors in your life to have an annual brown bag check-up with your primary care provider or your senior care pharmacist, to make sure prescriptions and over-the-counter meds that are taken daily are the proper dosages, current, and above all, necessary.
A brown bag check-up is the perfect time to discuss any side effects you are experiencing, as well. If you’re taking a medicine that isn’t compatible with another one, it can present in a variety of ways, including nasty side effects, some of which could be potentially fatal.
I’m not trying to scare anyone, but I am compelled to emphasize the importance of brown bag check-ups for seniors, in reflection of my personal experience with Grandma.
October has a plethora of awareness campaigns. Home Helpers® is recognizing Organize Your Medical Information, as just one of the most vital to seniors. If you or a senior loved one could benefit from the assistance of a caregiver to help with medication reminders; assist with a virtual call, or take you to your doctor or pharmacist for a brown bag check-up, I am happy to schedule a FREE consultation and personal assessment to find the right caregiver match. There is no obligation to enlist Home Helpers® services, however, you may discover other ways a compassionate caregiver can assist and make your life easier!
We, at Home Helpers® Clearwater, are honored to have received the Home Care Pulse – Best of Home Care® Provider of Choice Award for 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020. We proudly serve male and female seniors in Clearwater, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Holiday, New Port Richey, Trinity, Port Richey, Hudson and surrounding areas. Home Helpers®…we are Making Life Easier℠ 727.942.2539
Sources:
HWMM
Brown Bag Check-Ups Fact Sheet
