Home Care Services Can Help Manage Side Effects of Medications

Around 9 out of 10 adults age 65 or older take at least one prescription medication. One out of two adults in this group takes four or more medications. The odds are high that your mom takes daily prescription pills, but does she always take them as prescribed? Older adults provide several reasons why they don’t take their medications as prescribed. For some, the cost is too much. Your mom doesn’t like how they make her feel. When the side effects have her thinking twice about taking her medications, how can you or her home care services help her?

Medications That the Elderly Are Often Prescribed

Your mom’s health issues will determine the medications her doctor prescribes. Some of the more common medications prescribed to the elderly include:

• ACE inhibitors for high blood pressure or congestive heart failure
• Antidepressants for anxiety and depression
• Beta blockers for high blood pressure and anxiety
• Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure
• Diuretics for heart, kidney, and liver disease
• Statins for high cholesterol

All of these can have side effects that make it harder to function each day. Statins can make the muscles ache and cause dizziness, headache, and muscle pain. Diuretics can cause dehydration and muscle cramps. Beta blockers can cause stomach upset, dizziness, and fatigue.

Common symptoms shared with many of these medications include dizziness, fatigue, muscle cramps and pain, nausea, and vomiting. It makes it hard to keep up with daily routines. That’s why your mom isn’t taking them as often as she should.

Talk to Her Doctor

Talk to her doctor about the side effects that bother her. There is always a chance that a different medication would be as effective with fewer side effects.

Her doctor may have tips that can help her manage the symptoms. Instead of taking her pills when she gets out of bed, she could take them before going to bed. The dizziness is less likely to bother her if she’s sleeping.

Have Home Care Services Aides Stay With Her After Taking Them

Talk to your mom about her prescriptions. If the side effects bother her, she may prefer having someone in the home when the medications and side effects start kicking in. With home care services aides offering medication reminders and companionship, she never has to be alone when she’s feeling the effects of the pill she can.

Arrange home care services while asking the specialist any questions your family has. You’ll learn more about prices, services, and schedules during this call. Reach out today to get started.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at CaraVita Home Care today. (770) 643-1712