When you are the main caregiver for an older family member, one of your most important jobs is helping them remember to take medication. While it helps to learn about every medication your loved one takes, including the best times of day for administration, it can still be difficult to get everything organized. Here are a few tips to ensure the senior in your life takes all of the necessary medications every day.

5 Tips for Helping an Older Loved One Remember to Take Medication

1. Reduce the Number Times Pills That Are Taken Each Day

Try to get the number down to one or two times daily—or four at the most. Learn which pills can be taken together without causing negative interactions, so the senior isn’t responsible for taking six or seven pills at once.

2. Place a Pillbox in a High-Traffic Area

Make knowing what medications to take daily simple with a pillbox featuring the days of the week. Keep the box in a place the senior will see every day, such as in the bathroom or by the coffeemaker. Help your loved one refill the box every week as part of your caregiver duties. Weekly refills help reinforce the importance of medication diligence.

3. Incorporate Medications Into Daily Routines

Get the senior used to taking medications every day by making them part of their routine activities, such as brushing teeth or eating breakfast. Adding medications to their daily routine makes it much easier to remember, especially if they are taken at the same time each day, such as immediately after bathing or getting dressed.

4. Set Up Alarms

Program alarms into the senior’s phone or watch to remind them when it’s medication time. You can also call the loved one or send daily text messages. Placing alarms around the home that go off at different times of the day can help as well.

5. Encourage Communication

Let the loved one know you are always available to provide reminders and answer questions. Make it clear that you want to know about any side effects or changes they might experience with the pharmaceuticals. Physicians and pharmacists are also important resources who can easily answer questions or make medication adjustments. If the senior still has issues remembering to take medication, it may be time to consider professional caregiver services to keep the loved one happy and healthy. 

If professional caregiver services are right for your older loved one, contact Deer Valley Home Health Services. Featuring locations in Berkeley, St. Louis, and St. Charles, MO, the home health agency has served area residents since 2005 and assists special needs teens and veterans, as well as seniors. Call (314) 355-3679 today to discuss your loved one’s needs, or visit the home health care service online for more caregiver information.