Medication Management: How Avila Can Help

As you age, the likelihood that you will be prescribed multiple medications for certain age-related or other conditions increases. Managing several medications at one time can be difficult, and it can be confusing to know how the interactions between different medications can affect your health. Here, the home care specialists at Avila Home Care discuss tips for organizing and managing medications, and how our aging-in-place services can help. 

Understand Your Medications 

Although medications are meant to alleviate pain and discomfort, certain types may cause a variety of negative reactions or side effects when combined with other medications or foods. There are three different types of interactions you and your loved ones should be aware of when managing medication: drug-disease, drug-food and drug-drug interactions. Drug-disease interactions occur when an individual’s medication causes a negative reaction as a result of a preexisting health condition. Drug-food interactions occur when an individual’s medication reacts adversely to the consumption of certain foods or drinks, and drug-drug interactions occur when an individual is taking two or more drugs that react with each other; these types of interactions can cause minor to significant harm depending on the medications. It is essential to understand the potential adverse effects that certain medications can have when combined with various health conditions, foods or drugs.

Keep Track of Prescriptions 

Another difficulty many individuals may encounter when managing medications is keeping proper track of prescriptions. Mistakes in medication management can range from overlooking which days to take your pills, to forgetting where you got your medication prescribed, to accidentally taking expired medication. Keep a log of which doctors have prescribed you medications so any future medication management mishaps can be remedied more efficiently. Writing out a detailed schedule, picking up a “days of the week” pillbox and sorting out your medications in the beginning of the week with an Avila caregiver are also beneficial ways to keep track of your prescriptions.

Examine Other Aspects of Daily Life 

Sometimes, negative reactions to medications can arise from changes in lifestyle habits. Make sure that, when you start a new medication, you inform your doctor if you have recently started a new diet or made other significant lifestyle changes, as certain changes may affect the efficacy of your medication. The dedicated staff at Avila Home Care are here to help you manage these medications and offer medication reminder services to keep your schedule on track, as well as mobility services to ensure you do not miss doctor’s appointments. In addition to medication and mobility services, Avila also offers meal preparation and nutritional services that include helping your plan, prepare and serve your meals. While the aging-in-place specialists at Avila Home Care can help you properly track and manage your medications, it is always advisable to discuss these important issues with a healthcare professional.

Manage Your Medications With Avila Home Care 

Keeping track of your medicine can be a challenge, especially as you age. Understanding the interactions between various medications, prioritizing doctor’s appointments and staying on top of eating and physical health habits can be overwhelming. We encourage you to speak to one of our dedicated staff members today to learn more about the benefits of Avila Home Care’s companion and personal care services.

The aging in place caregivers at Avila Home Care always encourage readers to discuss any health questions or concerns with a qualified healthcare professional.

Some content in this article was sourced from Healthxchange.

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