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Prescription Errors Pose Danger to Seniors
OMAHA, Nebraska OMAHA, Nebraska — The strain of providing care for an elderly loved one is an everyday reality for the estimated 25 percent of American families who find themselves in this position. According to the United States Administration on Aging, these family or informal caregivers provide more than $250 billion in care for free each year, and a significant portion of these providers do so on a continuous basis.
“Families take on the role of informal caregiving for a variety of reasons, which can include financial, cultural and emotional considerations,” said Allen Hager, Founder of Right at Home. “While informal caregiving may seem to be a great idea, families need to have a plan in place to avoid the pitfalls and burnout that are common to people in this position. Many informal caregivers tend to ignore or put aside their own needs, which can be detrimental to themselves and the senior.”
According to Hager, family caregivers are often reluctant to seek assistance and make time for themselves, and nearly half of family caregivers don’t take advantage of outside assistance in the form of public or private senior services and agencies. “One of the most important things a family caregiver can do is ensure they can have time to themselves when they need it,” said Hager. “A few hours per week of ‘down time’ can make a world of difference, even if it’s just to have someone else come in and take care of the cooking or cleaning while you sit there with a good book or go for a walk around the neighborhood.”
In addition to making time for themselves, Hager recommends several other tips to help caregivers manage and balance their responsibilities. These include:
- Monitoring their health. Stress and inadequate sleep can take a negative toll on a caregiver’s physical and mental wellbeing.
- Staying connected to others. Providing care for someone at home can lead to a sense of isolation. Attend caregiver support group meetings, see a counselor or make a point of scheduling time out of the house with a friend.
- Taking some time off. Summer offers the perfect opportunity to go on vacation and recharge your batteries. Claim a week or two for yourself, and enlist the assistance of another family member or respite care to watch over your loved one so that you can come back refreshed.
- Not being afraid to seek or accept assistance. There are many free or economical public and private services for families seeking a respite from providing continuous care.
“Making the choice to provide informal care is a brave and difficult decision for many American families, but they don’t have to go it alone,” said Hager. “There are ample resources available in many communities to guide and assist these families who undertake the task of providing care to a senior friend or family member.”
Right at Home offers in-home supportive care and assistance to seniors and other adults to help them continue to live independently. Right at Home directly employs all direct care provider staff, is bonded and insured, and carefully pre-screens all caregivers prior to their entering a client’s home. All ongoing care is monitored and supervised by local independent owners. Some offices provide medical home healthcare, as well. Right at Home’s home office is based in Omaha, Neb., with franchise offices throughout the United States. For more information on Right at Home, visit the company’s Web site at www.rightathome.net.
Editor's Note: Right at Home franchise Allen Hager is available for interviews.
Please call (402) 697-7537 to schedule an interview.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Allen Hager, Founder,
(402) 697-7537 The results of a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that nearly one in 12 American seniors are prescribed drugs that are inappropriate for them, leading to significant negative side effects, higher health costs and even worsening of symptoms the drugs are meant to treat. While researchers did not identify specific reasons for prescription drug errors, senior care experts believe that enhancing communication between patients, their doctors and their pharmacies can help seniors avoid potential issues with their medication.
“Seniors need closer monitoring of their prescriptions because as an age group, they are more likely to take more medicines for longer periods of time,” said Allen Hager, Founder of Right at Home. “We have found that when seniors see multiple doctors and specialists for various conditions, or utilize multiple pharmacies to fill their prescriptions, there is sometimes a disconnect in reporting the entire medication regimen a patient is taking. This leaves the door open for potential drug interactions, and the prescribing of medicines that aren’t appropriate for elderly individuals.”
Among the problems senior care experts observe with prescription medicines are the use of multiple drugs that have possible interactions, drugs that aren’t appropriate or have serious side effects for seniors, and continuing to take medication for conditions that are alleviated.
According to Hager, one key to successful medication management is to keep an accurate record of every medicine a senior is taking, including over-the-counter drugs that could also interact with certain prescriptions.
“Someone, whether it is the senior, a family member or a caregiver, needs to take inventory of each drug, the dosing information and who prescribed it,” said Hager.
Once a list of medications is complete, it should be evaluated by the senior’s primary care physician or a pharmacist, who can then flag any potential dangers or make adjustments. This list should be maintained by one individual and taken to all future doctors’ appointments.
“It’s also recommended that a system be set up to monitor that a senior is taking their medicine at the correct dose and frequency to receive the full benefits of it,” said Hager. “If a senior has trouble remembering to take their medication, a family member can step in to remind them and make sure that their doctor’s instructions are being followed. By keeping accurate records and following doctor’s instructions, seniors can avoid potentially harmful health effects.”
Right at Home offers in-home supportive care and assistance to seniors and other adults to help them continue to live independently. Right at Home directly employs all direct care provider staff, is bonded and insured, and carefully pre-screens all caregivers prior to their entering a client’s home. All ongoing care is monitored and supervised by local independent owners. Some offices provide medical home healthcare, as well. Right at Home’s home office is based in Omaha, Neb., with franchise offices throughout the United States. For more information on Right at Home, visit the company’s Web site at www.rightathome.net.
Editor's Note: Right at Home founder Allen Hager is available for interviews.
Please call (402) 697-7537 to schedule an interview.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Allen Hager, Founder,
(402) 697-7537
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