COVID-19 Information - Click Here
Skip to Content
Homewatch CareGivers
LocationsIcon of Map Pin
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Franchise Opportunities
  • Care Community Blog
  • Contact Us
close
  • Back
  • Home
  • About Home Care
    • Back
    • What is Home Care
    • Types of Care
    • Financing Options
    • Cost
    About Home Care Homewatch CareGivers® believes good care should not interfere with your quality of life. We deliver the compassionate care our clients need to help complete day-to-day activities while still maintaining a healthy dose of independence.
  • Types of Care
    • Back
    • Elder Care
    • 24-Hour Care
    • Child Care
    • Respite Care
    • Senior Transportation Services
    • Companion Care
    • Hospital Discharge
    • Chronic Conditions Care
    • Dementia Care
    • Nursing Services
    • After Surgery Care
    • Personal Care
    Types of Care Our clients have many different reasons for requiring care, so we strive to provide services tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. Homewatch CareGivers delivers various types of in-home care that focus on the whole person—not just their condition.
  • Resources
    • Back
    • ALS
    • Arthritis
    • Dementia
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Diabetes
    • Heart Disease
    • Parkinson's Disease
    • Senior Safety
    • Stroke
    • For Health Care Providers
    • Ask The Experts
  • Our Story
    • Back
    • Team Bios
    • Facts & History
    • National Quality Forum
    • In the Media
    • Home Care Association of America
    Our Story Homewatch CareGivers was founded on the concept of person-directed care: focusing on the specific needs of the individual and treating each client as a whole person, not just a condition. We strive to provide in-home care services that allow people to continue living safely and happily in their own homes.
  • Why Choose Us?
    • Back
    • Our Caregivers
    • Questions to Ask
    • Homewatch CareGivers University
    • Client Testimonials
    • In-Home Senior Safety
    Why Choose Us? Let our family care for yours. At Homewatch CareGivers, we value not only highly qualified caregiving services but also human interactions and relationships. Our people make the difference.
LocationsIcon of Map Pin

Learn How to Properly Manage Medications

Learn How to Properly Manage Medications Jul 29, 2014
Blog Categories
  • COVID-19
  • A Business with a cause
  • Addressing Isolation & Loneliness
  • Age at home
  • Age in place
  • Aging at Home
  • Aging Parent
  • aging parents
  • animal therapy
  • Anxiety Support
  • Best Home Care
  • Care for Aging Parents
  • Care for My Aging Parent
  • Caregiver
  • Caregiver Assistance
  • Caregiver Stress
  • caregiving assistance
  • caring star
  • caring star award
  • caring.com
  • caring.com award
  • Coping and Caregiving
  • Coronavirus
  • Cost of Care
  • Dementia
  • dementia care
  • Elderly Parent Care
  • Employee Spotlight
  • Essential Caregiver Skills
  • Events
  • Falls Prevention
  • Family Caregiver
  • Financial Resources
  • Franchise
  • Franchising
  • handling caregiver stress
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Holiday Celebration
  • Home Care
  • Home Watch Caregivers
  • Homewatch CareGivers
  • how to manage caregiver stress
  • In-Home Safety
  • Job Fair
  • Local
  • Long Term Care
  • Long Term Care Options
  • National Public Health Week
  • New Office in New Haven
  • older parents
  • parents aging
  • Parkinson’s Symptoms
  • Passion of Caregiving
  • Pet Therapy
  • Planning Ahead
  • Provider Choice Award
  • Senior Care & Aging
  • Senior Exercise
  • service dog
  • Social Distancing
  • stress
  • therapy dog
  • top rated home care agency
  • wandering

Woman and Elder on Ipad

Whether on medication temporarily or long term, there are many opportunities for medicines to be taken incorrectly and cause additional health problems.

“We have had patients readmitted because of miscommunication about their medications,” said David Craig, PharmD and Pharmacist Lead for the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla. “It’s a big issue as people transition from in patient to outpatient or just transition within the hospital.”

Common medications that are taken improperly include many pain medicines. An estimated more than 76 million Americans suffer from pain, according to The Joint Commission, an independent nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. As doctors and pharmacists address pain management, crucial information can fall between the cracks for those who are seeking relief and need hospital discharge services.

What Goes Wrong

Among the reasons for medication mismanagement are allergic reactions, incorrect dosage amounts and bad medication interactions. 

When there is a medication mix-up, people might experience insulin shock, breathing difficulties, require rehospitalization or even death.

According to Mr. Craig and other experts, several problems can occur as people try to self-manage their medications:

1. It is easy to become confused over brand names and generic names, leaving patients in the dark as to whether they are taking a double dose of the same medicine or adding a new medicine.

2. Patients might know which medicines they already have at home, but cannot remember how much is left and therefore will be prescribed too much or not enough of a new medicine. This can lead to “double-dipping” with a patient combining two or more pain relievers or other medicines.

3. People may not remember where their medicines are and therefore not be able to provide doctors or pharmacists with an accurate list or history of their medications.

Mr. Craig said that privacy laws prevent the various entities (different doctor specialists) from being able to communicate instantly about a patient’s medication history. “There are safety concerns,” he said. Mr. Craig along with the Joint Commission recommends that patients create a medication list.

Get Organized

A family caregiver or professional caregiver can provide assistance in cataloguing all of the necessary medicines—including both prescription and over-the-counter drugs—which should also include vitamins, natural remedies and many other supplements. Having a list like this to provide doctors and pharmacists can help ensure that new medications will be safe.

Medication reminders can also be scheduled in advance and help to avoid confusion if there is more than on caregiver or family member responsible for care.

Whatever method is used, taking the time to ask questions about medications and organize them ahead of time can be a life-saving measure in the long run.

Posted By Homewatch CareGivers
  • Share
Blog Home - Previous Post | Next Post
More Posts Like This
  • Is Caregiving for You?
    Mar 22, 2021

    Is Caregiving for You?

    There might be some jobs out there better suited to a specific age in life, but caregiving can—and is—done by people from all ages and stages of life.

    Read More
  • The Benefits of Togetherness
    Mar 22, 2021

    The Benefits of Togetherness

    It might be time to start thinking about being together again. Well-being is not just about exercise and nutrition, but also relationships and emotional sturdiness.

    Read More
  • Caregiver Burnout and Other Risks
    Mar 22, 2021

    Caregiver Burnout and Other Risks

    Too much caregiving without support can lead to burnout and other ailments for a family caregiver. Learn how to avoid injury, stress, and maintain well-being.

    Read More
Homewatch CareGivers Caregiving Services
Find Your Location Homewatch CareGivers is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Help & Info
  • About Homecare
  • Types of Care
  • Financing Options & Programs
  • Our Resources
  • Owner Login
Our Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Blog
  • Franchise Opportunities
Other
  • National Homepage Homewatch CareGivers University Login Privacy Policy Site Map
  • Accessibility Notice
  • HIPAA Disclaimer
  • Do Not Sell My Information - California Residents
Follow Us On

Part of the Authority Brands Family

Authority Brands is the leading provider of in-home services, building brands that support the success of franchisees as well as better the lives of the homeowners we serve and the people we employ.
/
Copyright © 2021 | Homewatch CareGivers® is a trademark owned by Homewatch International, Inc.™ and licensed for use to independently-owned franchised businesses that offer caregiver services to the public. All personal services, elderly care, caregiving and home care services offered OR provided under the Homewatch CareGivers™ mark are offered and provided only by independently-owned franchises and, where required, licensed OR registered businesses and care agencies. Scorpion Franchise Internet Marketing
x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website, please update to most recent version.

Update My Browser