Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota
We forget things every day such as people’s names, our keys or whether we locked the front door. When it comes to taking your medicines, do not let your memory fail you. Taking medicines the right way could mean the difference between life and death. You can take simple steps to remember what medicines to take, and when to take them.
Keeping track of different medications can be a problem for everybody, whether you are young or old but as you get older, you tend to have more illnesses, so it is likely you will need to take more medications. Unfortunately, aging often brings a gradual loss of memory, which can make it even harder to keep track of your medications. The more you know about your medicines and the more you talk to your doctor, the easier it will be to avoid problems.
To assist you make a list of all the medications you need to take. For each medicine, include how much you need to take, the time of day you should take it, what it is for and the name of the doctor who prescribed it. You can turn this list into a daily checklist and post it in an obvious place in your house such as the refrigerator or your medicine cabinet.
Taking your medicines should become part of your daily routine. For instance, you might take one medication every morning after you brush your teeth, and a different one at night before you climb into bed.
Try using pillboxes that have pills distributed into different compartments according to the day of the week and the time of day they should be taken. Carefully fill the pill organizer at the start of each week with the correct amount of medicines. Get a health professional, friend or relative to help if this task is confusing.
You can also ask your physician to try to give you the simplest medication regimen possible that might offer once-a-day dosing or perhaps combination medications, so you will not have as many different medications to remember.
Technology can be helpful too. Cell phones, programmable wristwatches and other types of timers can remind you when it is time to take your medications. You could also try a phone service or a scheduling program on the computer if you are usually near a phone or on the computer when it is time to take your medicine.
Some technologies have timers on the medicine bottles, to remind you when it is time to take your medication. Technology also allows a recording to go to a doctor’s office, or to a loved one’s home, to let them know whether a person is taking medication as directed.
We live in a wonderful age where there are a lot of good medications that can help a lot of conditions. But medications must be taken as prescribed, and always in careful coordination with your health care provider.
Tips to Remember Your Medicines:
- Make a checklist of all the prescription and over-the-counter medicines you need to take each day.
- Post your checklist in an obvious location in your home. Keep another copy in your wallet or purse.
- Use a pillbox that keeps track of a week’s worth of medications.
- Make taking medicines part of your daily routine.
- Try to fill all your prescriptions at the same pharmacy, so all your records are in one place.
- Talk to your doctor about all the medications, remedies, and vitamins you use. Your doctor can make sure they will work together safely and effectively.
Be sure to watch for more Family Living Focus information from Gail Gilman, Family Life Consultant, M.Ed., C.F.C.S. and Professor Emeritus – University of Minnesota in next week’s paper.
