Tools to help seniors with medication management
As people age, they tend to be prescribed more medications. Unfortunately, at the same time, it can become harder to organize and take them correctly. Blister packs are a great tool.
Posted — UpdatedBesides asking one’s physician to help reduce the number of prescriptions, what tools exist to help seniors correctly adhere to the prescribed times, types of pills and any special instructions (like "take with food") each day?
While a number of companies market electronic devices with the ability to dispense medications correctly and send reminders when they aren’t taken, one simple tool which independent pharmacies are increasingly beginning to employ are blister packs.
A nice side-effect of this service is that the pharmacy must synchronize the prescriptions so that all the medications are ready at the same time before being packaged. Some pharmacies will also deliver a month’s worth of medications right to the doorway for those seniors who no longer drive or who simply need to simplify their lives.
What is the cost? It depends on the pharmacy and also the number of medications. Some pharmacies will provide the service for free if there are more than three prescriptions; others charge a nominal fee, like $10/month.
A common question patients ask is can the pharmacy also package over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin or vitamins, in the blister packs? The answer is yes.
How complicated is it to move Mom or Dad’s meds to a pharmacy that can provide this service? Not very. It usually requires filling out a consent form with the new pharmacy. The new pharmacy then reaches out to the old pharmacy to get the prescriptions transferred.
How long does it take for the blister packs to be prepared? It varies, depending on the pharmacy, it takes from three days to two weeks. A good pharmacy will make sure you have enough medications in-hand to last until the first blister packs are ready.
Here is a list of pharmacies in the area who offer this service:
Durham, NC 27704
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