How Assisted Living Providers Manage Resident Medication
/As people age, they often find that their needs gradually begin to change. Perhaps mobility becomes more challenging or maintaining personal hygiene habits becomes less manageable. Tasks like these are often categorized as “activities of daily living” or simply, ADL.
However, there is a simple and accessible solution to this common problem: assisted living. This level of care provides older adults with support in these ADLs so that they can remain independent and continue to fully enjoy the retirement phase of life and beyond.
Another ADL that can increase in difficulty over time is how people manage their medication. This could present itself through the inability to keep track of dosages, remembering when to refill prescriptions, or even when to take each medication.
Needless to say, medication management is an extremely important part of maintaining optimal health and quality of life at any age – but it is especially true for seniors who may be managing chronic conditions or are more vulnerable to health concerns overall.
Medication management is one of the many ADLs that assisted living residents can receive from a qualified senior living community. According to Carol Marak of SeniorCare.com, “85% of [assisted living] residents require assistance with management of their meds.” Assisted living providers accomplish this task by training the aides on their staff in several processes that ensure each resident receives the correct amount of their medication each day without the need to refill their own prescriptions.
Medication Management vs. Medication Administration
Medication management can be understood as “the process of overseeing the medications prescribed for a patient to ensure they are taken properly and achieving their planned, therapeutic outcome. This differs from medication administration, which is defined as “the location at which the drug is applied, such as oral or intravenous.
Therefore, medication management oversees all aspects of the medication regimen, including overseeing medications, how they are administered, as well as their outcomes.
The Seven Rights of Medication Administration
Medication administration is a critically important part of medication management. Senior living experts A Place for Mom describe the seven rights, or the seven Rs, of administering medication. When in search of an assisted living provider, be sure their medication management program follows these guidelines.
They confirm the identity of each resident receiving medication
They verify the correct medication is being administered
They confirm that the medication is being taken by the correct route
They ensure the medication is being given at the correct time of day
They verify that the correct amount of the medication is being given
They record when each medication is administered using the right chart
They ensure the medication is intended to create the right response
Medication management can be a challenging endeavor for many aging adults, especially when they are taking multiple medications at varying dosages. Fortunately, a qualified assisted living provider can remove these stresses so residents can stay healthy while enjoying more time to make the most out of every day.
