Polypharmacy is a term used to describe treatment for patients who take more than four medications. Oftentimes, individuals find themselves with questions regarding newly prescribed medications and an unclear understanding of how they should be managed.  

As family members get older and begin to rely on caregivers, everyone must be on the same page regarding their medication. Keep reading to learn more about medication management and some quick tips for managing multiple medications. 

What is Medication Management?

Medication management is defined as the practice of ensuring that prescribed medications are used correctly as prescribed by healthcare providers. This is an outpatient practice where caregivers will work alongside family members and the patient to ensure that medications are being administered correctly and are provided with the desired outcomes.  

Let us take a minute and think about this in relation to seniors. Many with advanced life skills struggle with maintaining their medication list accurately. There is also the issue of forgetting when to take and refill their prescriptions. Let us also not forget the unwanted side effects due to the medications. The risk of injury to the senior population is higher than the general population due to changes in organ function. Oftentimes they are under the care of multiple providers and have co-morbidities. One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of communication among the multidisciplinary team in managing polypharmacy. Communication is key and as a home care nurse, it is important that you communicate effectively and therapeutically with your clients and their families.  

Tips for managing multiple medications. 

You may be wondering how you can improve your medication management process. There are some easy systems that you can put into place to get organized and make sure everyone is on the same page.  

Here are a few tips that you can implement to improve your medication management systems while caring for yourself or a loved one. 

Emphasis on better medication management can enhance your experience and produce positive outcomes. Working in conjunction with your caregiver and provider to facilitate a conversation addressing the medications that are currently prescribed and the opportunities to discontinue a medication that may not be appropriate leads to increased patient engagement.  

At MAS Home Care our compassionate nurses and caregivers aid that works with patients and their providers to develop the best course of action to reach a positive outcome. We provide personalized care where a patient’s needs are the top priority. Start the conversation, contact MAS Home Care today!  

Reviewed By:  

Tabitha Dowd: Tabitha is the new MAS Home Care Division Director. With over 15 years of leadership experience in quality assurance and performance improvement processes, regulatory interpretation, and data analysis, Tabitha comes to MAS with the knowledge and passion to provide the highest level of home care for all. When she is not working, Tabitha is training in Mixed Martial Arts and enjoying time with her husband and two daughters.  

Resources:

• http://www.ihi.org/communities/blogs/_layouts/ihi/community/blog/itemview.aspx?List=0f316db6-7f8a-430f-a63a-ed7602d1366a&ID=41&utm_campaign=tw&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=15462783&_hsenc=p2ANqtz—K2FppdVa9difoXCXsq–qrSiXPUo1-hJvBhEgzUxMWJt1o-iyuY537PW53HMsvgJrpxD5PgqxzlGZhpLB0Sdrc-KJg&_hsmi=15462783 
• https://meridianpsychiatricpartners.com/medication-management-consider/#:~:text=Medication%20management%20is%20a%20level,by%20a%20qualified%20physician%2Fprescriber. 
• https://blog.cureatr.com/8-tips-for-the-medication-management-process