Problems With Medications

In a recent newsletter from Shelley Webb at The Eldercare Support Group wrote about how to find a compounding pharmacy because her dad is having difficulty swallowing now. This reminded me that so many people don't understand that not all medications can be crushed or chewed safely. In fact, some shouldn't be altered at all. So I wrote this article at Suite101.com about Taking Medications Correctly.

Anyone who is chronically ill, aging or is on hospice care can have great difficulty taking medications. Some may go down easily while others stick or choke. And it's not always the ones you might suspect that cause the trouble. Some people can swallow the horse pills just fine, and have an awful time with the tiny ones. So it's hard to predict.

People with dementia may refuse to take the medications and anyone who is dying may not be conscious or alert enough to swallow them reliably. This presents a dilemma for the caregivers. In some instances, medications can be crushed and put into a small spoonful of pudding, Jello, or applesauce. A little bit of jelly or even peanut butter can work too. But you have to be sure you get all of the medication into the bite and that it is safe to crush this medication. Ask the pharmacist!

Some meds can be dispensed in liquid form. If your mom or dad still refuses it because of dementia, you can add it to a small glass of juice. But not too much because you need to be sure they finish it.

Some medications need to be altered by a special pharmacist known as the compounding pharmacist. Discuss your issues with the physician and have him/her contact a compounding pharmacy. The talk it over with the pharmacist to figure out the best way to administer this medication.

Get RID of the Throw Rugs!

I can almost guarantee you that one of the first things the home health nurse or physical therapist will encounter and discuss with you and or your elders is those throw rugs!

While they can be pretty especially if they are of the expensive persian rug variety; they can be one of the most dangerous hazards in the house. Yes, they cover a variety of mishaps or old and worn carpets, but they can also present a trip waiting to happen and I don't mean a vacation!

Most older people shuffle their feet when they walk. They may have spent a lifetime telling you to "pick up your feet," but now they have the shuffle themselves. This can feel like a safe gait and many times it can be, but it can also cause them to trip over cords, oxygen tubing and throw rugs.

A fall can result in a broken hip, broken wrist, ribs, or even more serious injury such as a head injury from hitting an object or the ground. I don't have the statistics at my fingertips, but hip fractures result in a huge number of deaths each year. This is often as a result of the surgery necessary to repair or replace the hip or from complications afterwards such as pneumonia.

Even a broken wrist which can seem like a much less harmful injury can be devastating for an older person. Just imagine yourself with an arm immobilized. Can you get yourself dressed, groomed, bathed, or even wiped after using the toilet? Compound this with the many other disabilities your elders may have and you can have a real disaster on your hands.

Go through the house with your elders and clear the pathways of clutter, cords, and throw rugs. If they need long extensions of oxygen tubing consult with the respiratory therapist from the vendor company and see what options can be set up. Perhaps some lengths of tubing can be safely placed permanently and quick-connect adapters used as they move about the house as opposed to dragging long lengths of tubing everywhere. There may be some expense ibvolved, but it can be far less costly than dealing with an injury from a fall.

photo: Herman Brinkman/stock.xchng.com

Sign Up For Medicare at 65

About three months before turning 65 is when it is advised to sign up for Medicare. You can read more about this in my article on Suite101.com. Open enrollment is coming up soon. You can only make changes once a year now to Medicare choices. Here's another article that may help you understand. It was written a couple of years ago, but the basic information and the info in the links will give you some ideas of what you need to consider. See the Medicare site for the latest information.

Confused About Health Care Reform?

Worried about health care reform? Need some plain simple language to tell you more about the FACTS and not the rumors about losing everything or death panels for seniors? Here's a link to some very basic information in plain simple language.

Medicare and Medicaid will still be there for you...

Medicare's Site for Caregivers

Medicare has a web page just for caregivers with a long list of links to help answer some of your basic questions about caregiving for your aging parents.

With Open Enrollment coming up in a few months this may be a good time to begin exploring options if your loved one's Medicare plan isn't meeting their financial needs. There's several links on this web page to help you understand the options and find information to compare choices.

Phone Solutions for the Hard of Hearing

If your loved ones are experiencing difficulties using the phone due to hearing loss, I would sincerely suggest investigating this phone. The Clarity/Ameriphone XL50 offers some terrific options such as the big number pad. It also has the ability to adjust the tonal quality of the voice which is really important in moderate to severe hearing loss. It's like an equalizer that filters out the tones the person can't hear as well and amplifies those s/he can hear. It also has a volume adjustment and a Boost function. The Boost can be set to be on continuously, or as needed by pushing a button while listening.

Being unable to hear well on the phone can be such an isolating thing for anyone, but especially for the elderly who rely on the phone for socialization. This product can help them get back into circulation.

We recently bought one for my mother-in-law who is severely hard of hearing and has hearing aides. It's going to work out really well. She's not technically adept and this phone is easy for her to manipulate. She has to adjust it slightly for my voice versus my husband's and she was able to do this on her own. It's too loud for my father-in-law, but he doesn't use the phone a lot and can use an extension phone.

More information and reviews are available on Amazon.com.

Beyond Coping The Joyful Art of Caregiving 2009 Telesummit

This telesummit ends TODAY, but you can still get the information by clicking on the registration link below....

I am participating in an important FREE telesummit sponsored by The Eldercare Support Group for anyone caring for an aging patient, friend or family member such as parent, grandparent, in-law, etc.
(UPDATE: My presentation was on be Saturday Aug. 8 at Noon ET)

TELESUMMIT SCHEDULE AND FREE REGISTRATION

WHEN: Aug 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 2009
EXPERTS: Tonia Boterf, Denise Brown, Barbara Freisner, Andrew Mayoras, Danielle Miller, Kathy Quan, Hueina Su, Shelley Webb, Brian Willie, and Jason Young

To learn more about this virtual event, its speakers and how to register, visit:
Beyond Coping The Joyful Art of Caregiving 2009 Telesummit

Once you register, all the details about attending the calls will be emailed to you.

CAN'T ATTEND AT THE SCHEDULED CALL TIME?

That's not a problem because all the calls will be recorded and each will be available for 24 hours after it is completed. You'll also be able to RElisten in case there was something you wanted to hear again.

We also understand that you may want to listen several times or have the information available for family and friends to listen, so besides recording the calls, we are also going to turn them into MP3 audio recordings, CDs and transcripts. You'll be able to purchase them at a very affordable price at the time of registration.

But again, the sessions themselves are all FREE to attend.

Won't you join us?
Again, here's the link to register:
Beyond Coping Telesummit