What is Medication Management? A Comprehensive Guide

Most older adults - around nine in ten - take at least one prescription medication. Close to 80% rely on at least two, while a third need at least five different drugs!

The more medicines someone needs to take, the higher their risk of getting confused. For instance, they may confuse one medicine for another or forget about taking them. That can result in poor medication adherence.

The good news is that proper medication management can help prevent those issues.

But what is medication management exactly? How does it work, and what are its benefits?

This guide explores those questions and shares medication management tips, so please read on.

What Is Medication Management?

Medication management is a strategy for ensuring patients take their medicines as prescribed. It helps people take the correct medication and dosage at the right time. It's a collaboration between patients, caregivers (including family members), and healthcare providers.

How Does It Work?

Healthcare medication management starts with a doctor determining a patient's need for medicine. The doctor may then prescribe prescription drugs. Sometimes, the treatment plan includes over-the-counter medications and multivitamin supplements.

Doctors write all the information about the medicines in a prescription (Rx), including:

• The prescription's date of issue
• The patient's name, address, and date of birth
• The doctor's name, address, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number
• Name of drug, strength, dosage form, and quantity required
• Specific instructions for use
• Number of refills necessary

Patients and their caregivers must follow all the instructions written in the Rx. They should also monitor any side effects, especially if the medication is new. Additionally, they must notify the primary healthcare provider if any adverse effects occur.

Benefits and Importance of Medication Management

In a CDC study, around 10% of U.S. adults aged 45 and older said they experience worsening memory loss. The CDC also estimates that about 6.7 million older U.S. adults have Alzheimer's disease. These individuals are at risk of poor medication adherence.

Proper medication management, especially in older adults, can help minimize such risks.

Improve Medication Adherence

Poor medication adherence can result from errors in drug administration. An example is when someone fails to take the correct medicine on time and at the right dose. It can lead to poor treatment outcomes and adverse drug events (ADEs).

Effective medication management strategies can help prevent such mistakes and improve medication adherence.

Achieve Positive Treatment Outcomes

Have you ever wondered why you or a loved one must take certain drugs at specific times, such as in the morning or before bed?

The answer is that many medicines are time-sensitive. When taken at the right time, they work better and are safer.

What Are Time-Sensitive Medications?

Hypertension medications are a perfect example. Researchers found they're more effective when taken at bedtime instead of in the morning.

Other medicines are time-sensitive because they can cause side effects that may interfere with a person's daily life. For instance, some antidepressants may cause drowsiness. As such, doctors often tell patients to take them at night.

You may also have noticed that you must take some medicines after a meal. That's because they may cause an upset stomach, so eating before taking them can help reduce the risk of such side effects.

The Role of Medication Management

As mentioned above, medication management helps patients take their medicines on time. So, it helps optimize their treatments' effectiveness and reduce the risks of side effects. The fewer side effects patients experience, the more likely they are to adhere to their prescriptions.

Enhance Quality of Life

When medicines work as they should, they can effectively manage or treat the condition people take them for. They also cause fewer side effects, which reduces patient discomfort. All that then helps people on medications enjoy a higher quality of life.

How Assisted Living Medication Services Help

If you or a loved one is considering assisted living, you'll be happy to know that these communities offer elderly medication management services. They have highly experienced caregivers trained to administer medicines correctly.

Here are some ways assisted living communities can help with medication management.

Medication Reminders

Caregivers in assisted living communities can gently remind residents to take their medications on time. It helps their senior residents stay on track with their wellness goals.

Residents who only need reminders can still enjoy the independence of taking their medicines on their own.

Medication Administration

Medication administration is the process of giving patients their medicines. It's a more involved task for caregivers, as they must:

• Familiarize themselves with each patient's medication requirements
• Administer the correct medicine with the proper dose at the right time
• Follow all the instructions in each patient's prescription

Caregivers stay with the residents as they take their medication. That way, they can ensure their residents have safely taken the prescription drugs.

Caregivers also monitor residents for symptoms before, during, and after administration. Doing so allows them to catch signs of ADEs, other health issues, or disease progression. For example, in seniors with diabetes, caregivers may look for signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Other Helpful Services

Community staff and caregivers can also help residents organize their medications. For example, they can help seniors arrange their medicines in pillboxes neatly. They may also assist their more tech-savvy residents in using phone reminders.

Caregivers may also refill prescriptions on behalf of patients. If residents want to do it themselves, they can ask caregivers to accompany them to the pharmacy. Residents can also schedule these trips and get chauffeured transportation.

Simplifying Medication Management

And there you have it, the ultimate guide to answering the question, "What is medication management?" Now you know it's a strategy designed to help people who need to take medicines do so safely and correctly.

At Lehigh Acres Assisted Living, we aim to help our residents live their lives to the fullest. We want every member of our community to enjoy their golden years.

That's why we offer comprehensive personal care services, including medication management. We also have restaurant-like dining, beautiful apartments, and engaging activities for seniors. We employ 24/7 security so residents and their loved ones feel at ease.

Reach out to us today to schedule a tour of our pet-friendly community!