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First of all, remember
that it is extremely important for your loved one to take his/her
prescribed medications. Not doing so could cause both physical and
mental problems and could lead to the emergency room. How best to manage
medication will depend on how much medication she takes, how many times
a day she takes it and her ability to manage it.
If your loved
one is capable of taking her medication and just needs reminders, you
can purchase some devices. One of them from ALR Technologies, http://www.alrt.com,
is inexpensive and the size of your palm. It is called the Med
Reminder. It uses a beeping sound and a visual signal as a reminder to
take the medication at the prescribed time, day and night.
You will find instructions on how to operate this device on the above website.
If
on the other hand, your loved one is in a stage where she cannot
remember to take medication, then you, or someone else, for example a
nurse or family member, will need to intervene and give it to her. In
the mid to later stages of Alzheimer's, you need to observe her taking
medication. You should also watch her when eating, as people with
Alzheimer’s disease begin to have difficulty swallowing as the disease
progresses. This is a real concern for those caring for them, as
caregivers need to be constantly on alert to intervene if needed.
If
your loved one is in a nursing home and you see that the medication is
affecting her in a negative way, you may ask the nursing home to change
the medication. You may need to make an appointment and let the
administrator know that you observed some changes since your loved one
started her medication. You can also ask to attend the next planning
meeting for your loved one. By law, family members are to be informed
and invited to the meetings. If the staff still doesn’t want to deal
with this issue, you can call the long-term care ombudsman in your
state. Ombudsmen are volunteers who have been trained to advocate for
and on behalf of the residents of nursing homes. They will try to
mediate between you and the facility.
And remember, you know your
loved one best. So trust your feelings and work with the caregivers when
managing medication for your Alzheimer's patient.
About the Author
William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally
known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center.
He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed
innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering
from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com.
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