Home Healthcare Company in Ann Arbor Explains How to Protect Seniors Against Medication Risks

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Oct. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- Prescriptions can be the key to a longer, fuller life; but if not handled properly, they can also cause serious problems. To help us all use prescriptions properly and minimize risk, Right at Home of Ann Arbor is celebrating “Talk About Your Medicines” Month this October, organized by the National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE). The NCPIE is a coalition of more than 125 diverse organizations whose mission is to stimulate and improve communication of information on appropriate medicine use to consumers and healthcare professionals.

“Educating patients is critical for promoting healthy use of prescriptions, as people tend to see many different doctors for various conditions instead of one primary physician,” said Charles Williams, President and General Manager of Right at Home of Ann Arbor, a company specializing in home healthcare in Ann Arbor Michigan. “Seniors are at an even higher risk than most for serious side effects and other medication risks. Our home healthcare company is taking advantage of this month-long awareness event to education our clients and seniors so they can protect themselves against these risks.”

According to NCPIE, two out of every three doctor visits result in the prescribing of a medication, with a total of 3.5 billion prescriptions dispensed every year. Prescription education is particularly important for seniors, who tend to take more medications on average—50 percent of seniors take an average of eight medications or more regularly, according to a news release from the National Council on Aging and CVS/pharmacy. Since the risk of experiencing side effects increases with the number of prescriptions taken, most seniors have a high risk. As bodies change and age, this can cause the body to react differently, so a senior may start to experience a side effect from a prescription even if they have been taking it for years without any issues.

NCPIE advises all prescription users to "Be MedWise (http://www.bemedwise.org/)” and practice safe medicine use by focusing on the "3Rs": risk, respect and responsibility. Right at Home of Ann Arbor recommends these Top 10 best practices for senior medication safety:

1. Always keep a complete, updated list of medications, including prescriptions, over the counter medications, vitamins and supplements. Give a copy to family members and others who may need to know in an emergency, such as a close neighbor or medical proxy. Show this list to all physicians you see at every visit.

2. Use one pharmacy. People usually see several doctors to address different problems, so prescriptions can’t be managed through a primary physician as they used to be. Going through the same pharmacy for all prescriptions will create one more check point to make sure prescriptions won’t mix dangerously.

3. Know your medications.  Read the information that comes with each medication, know the purpose and be aware of their side effects.

4. Only take medications as directed. If you feel a change needs to be made, talk to the physician who prescribed it; never self-medicate.

5. Store medications in a dry place of moderate temperature; do not store in areas where temperatures vary greatly or where it gets humid (like the medicine cabinet in the bathroom). Know what prescriptions need to be stored in the refrigerator.

6. Talk to a doctor before adding a new medication, vitamin or supplement to your routine if you are taking a prescription.

7. Do not share prescriptions with others, no matter what. Even the same medication can come in pills of varying amounts, and even a small amount of difference in dosages can make a big difference to your body.

8. Get rid of expired prescriptions, even if you haven’t used all of them yet. Prescriptions change as they age, meaning they will mix differently with your body and other prescriptions and can lead to dangerous adverse reactions.

9. Speak up—keep the conversation going with your physicians and pharmacy. Ask questions and voice your concerns. You know your body best, and when it comes to your health, there are no bad questions.

10. If applicable, use medication management tools like reminder services, electronic pill dispensers or home healthcare services like Right at Home of Ann Arbor to ensure that medications are taken properly. Missing a dosage, confusing pills or other innocent medication mistakes can have serious ramifications.

About Right at Home
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers home healthcare and companionship and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world. For more information on Right at Home, read the Right at Home caregiving blog at http://www.rightathome.net/blog.

About Right at Home of Ann Arbor
The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing senior care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home of Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.