I apologize for my long absence. My son went on a study drug named +Sutent December 7, 2012. We had to make a long trip to Indianapolis right after Thanksgiving and then he started the study drug after returning. Sam went on home bound because of the excessive fatigue and the difficulty maintaining a school schedule. At the same time my employer, +Comforcare Home Care , was working to find another caregiver to work opposite me with my clients. So, life got crazy and I slipped in the frequency of my posts.
One topic I want to address is the topic of medication management and medication errors. Even the most loving and attentive of caregivers, family or professional, can easily make errors in this department. Recently, while talking with a client's family, I was reminded for myself as well the importance of updated medication information. In a place of prominence, for us it is the refrigerator, a list of current medications should be kept. This way if there is ever an emergency there is a quick and accessible list for medical personnel. One of the family caregivers I work with keeps a list in his wallet, which I thought was a great idea as well.
The use of pill organizers can be a double edged sword. For those with loved ones with dementia or cognitive impairment, even pill organizers should be kept in a locked box. This way there is no possibility of your loved one forgetting what day it is and taking the next days medications. Also, if there are small children that come into the home, there is always the danger of a child getting into medications. For those without such challenges, pill organizers can be extremely helpful.
If I am at work (I am also a professional caregiver), I set alarms on my phone for when I need to get someone their medications. I have my kids set alarms on their phones for their medication times, which is helpful when I cannot be there. I also end up calling to remind them as well. It is important to be aware of warnings of side effects or drug interactions for each medication, and if need be to post that information with your medication list. For instance, with my son, he cannot have anything grapefruit and he cannot have nsaids, such as +Advil, while on the medication. This is important and vital information for yourself, your loved one, but also to have handy for other caregivers or medical personnel.
