In Loganville, caregivers can provide medication reminders as long as the care is not nursing care. A Home Instead Care Pro will remind a client of the need to take their medication according to the instructions given to them, but does not provide, alter, or administer medication. Questions regarding medications of a clinical nature are the responsibility of a nurse, pharmacist, or physician.
It is important to understand the distinction regarding medication support as it can mean different things to different people. Some may need a simple prompt, while others may be uncertain as to which medication is to be taken, whether the dosage has been altered, or what the consequence of not taking the medication is. These are not the same support needs.
For those who can still take their medication independently once reminder is given, non-medical elder care in Loganville may be appropriate, along with services to help with other daily activities.
What Does a Typical Medication Reminder Look Like During a Care Visit in Loganville?
A medication reminder is meant to be given to support an existing routine. It is not meant to be a new medical plan.
A Care Pro will remind the client of their medication when it is time to take it, as long as the client has the written instructions and knows how to take the medication. The client is still in control of their care choices.
Such support is helpful for memory or scheduling challenges rather than clinical case management. A reminder could even fit within the scheduling framework of a typical visit. The Care Pro could be there when your parent has their breakfast and prepares for the rest of the day, and then remind them of the agreed prompt at the given time.
The most important thing to note here is that the suggested medication plan already exists. The Care Pro does not make any determination as to what needs to be taken, how much, or even if the plan should be adjusted.
When we’re discussing home care services, I need to stress that point first and foremost. If reminders suffice, then we can address them within the broader Care Plan. However, if the medication management is going to require clinical judgment, non-medical home care is not an appropriate service.
What a Care Pro Cannot Do: Prescribe, Change, or Administer Medication
A non-medical Care Pro cannot prescribe medication, change the dose or dosing time independently, administer medication, or make clinical judgments regarding medication. Pill organizers must not be filled or set up without proper order. If the medication plan changes, the new instructions must come from the appropriate healthcare professional.
As a result, the Care Pro should not skip a dose because your parent is tired, take an extra dose because a symptom has returned, or interpret a new prescription.
Home care is able to help with the routine around the administration of medication. However, home care cannot take the place of the health professional who prescribed the medication or the clinician responsible for the medical care.
Limits can be helpful. When you know the extent of the support, it helps you avoid unsuitable services and also enables you to join different services more easily when your parent needs multiple services.
How do you keep your medication instructions up to date?
The best reminder can be helpful only if the instructions behind the reminder are clear enough. If there has been a change in the medication, but there has been no change in the written routine, a Care Pro should not be expected to determine which of the options is the current one.
I suggest that you keep one clear written medication routine and, when your parent's health care professional updates the routine, you update your parent's medication instructions to reflect this change and document your parent's involvement in this process to the extent he or she is still able to do so.
A written routine can be helpful if it includes:
The current medication list, with the name of the medication, the prescribed dose, the time to take the dose, etc.
The date when the list was last changed to help determine the expiration of the medication instructions.
The name of the health care professional who provided the instructions to help address any questions concerning the medication.
Explicit instructions regarding uncommon situations such as whether or not medication should be taken if the Care Pro is unsure whether to take the medication for a miss dose, side effect, etc.
NEW SYSTEM FOR SHARING CHANGES. To avoid using an incomplete and informal message to communicate important changes, use the system. Ensure the relevant updates reach those involved in developing the Care Plan.
With a procedure in place to administer and oversee home care services in Lawrenceville, the need for care coordination and system consistency becomes critical, especially for those providing support to your parent while he is in Loganville and while someone else is coordinating appointments in Lawrenceville.
We also provide home care services in Lawrenceville, hut to be on the safe side, medication instructions should come from the proper medical source and be explained clearly.
When Does Medication Confusion Need A Nurse, Pharmacist, or Physician?
Medication confusion is a reason to stop what you are doing to seek clinical attention when someone (a care receiver) isn’t forgetting to take their meds, but is confused about what to take, how much to take, is unclear about instructions, and/or is confused about the nature of a medication problem.
A Care Pro should notice the confusion and ensure the care process is followed. They should not independently answer the medication question.
If the medication instructions are unclear, a pharmacist or nurse, or clinical care provider should be consulted:
If instructions about the dosage and the time to take the medicine are different
When written instructions about two medications appear to be contradictory
When someone is in doubt about the name of the medication
If there is a question about a missed or extra dose
If a new symptom, a possible side effect, or a new health concern regarding the mediation is observed
Our home care services in Lawrenceville do not take away the need for clinical care services for medical care; the two services do not have to interfere with each other.
If there is a need to administer medication, let the caregiver know this during the first care meeting. It’s important to point out these needs before the care plan is in place rather than assuming the non-medical caregiver can perform nursing tasks.
Commonly Asked Questions Relating To Medication Administration During Home Care In Loganville
Can Home Instead Care Pros administer medication to elderly patients?
Home Instead Care Pros, by protocol, will not administer medication. Care Pros can facilitate agreed upon medication reminders as part of the care plan. The responsibility of administering the medication and answering any of the associated questions about the medication falls within the scope of the healthcare professionals.
Can a Care Pro remind a patient to take a dose of medication?
This can be part of the care plan. Non-medical care can assist in medication reminders for patients that have a medication routine and do not require the caregiver to make clinical decisions or assessments. This service ensures the caregiver is not in a situation to make unclear decisions regarding the medication.
Can a Care Pro fill a medication organizer?
Again, this would depend on the care plan and the authorization associated with the care plan. Care Pros should be sure to have the proper authorization prior to filling or assisting a patient in changing the medication organizer. Pill organization should be done by healthcare professionals and only when the dosing instructions are current.
What happens if my parent still decides not to take the medication after I remind them?
A reminder is not the same as consent to take action to provide medication. If your parent decides not to take the medication, the Care Pro should continue to follow the agreed upon Care Plan and the given communication protocol. For clarification of what it means to refuse medication, or if the Care Pro should administer the medication at a different time, or what happens next, please contact the appropriate clinician.
What happens if the prescription is changed?
The medication information should be updated, and the change should be communicated through the proper care procedures. The Care Pro should not change the medication instructions based on an old verbal order or new, contradictory instructions. The direction and responsibility for the change should be handled by the prescribing practitioner or pharmacist, while the home care team can change the reminder schedule as appropriate.
How do I know if reminders are enough?
Reminders are enough if your parent is still able to understand instructions and take the medication independently. If they are unable to do the previous, and if it is required that someone select the medicine, determine the dose, give it, and interpret the side effects and decide what actions should be taken for a missed dose, then it is beyond the scope of non-medical home care, and should be handled by a nurse, pharmacist, or physician.
If reminders of medication are the main concern, you can request additional support for the Loganville Care Plan from our Home Instead Local Office. We can help you identify the daily routine care the Care Pro can offer from the clinical medication needs which are the responsibility of a healthcare professional.
Author
Matt Cohn
Matt Cohn has spent more than 25 years helping older adults and their families find the right support to remain safe and comfortable at home. He owns Home Instead locations in Georgia and Louisiana, including the Lawrenceville-area office serving Loganville, and works closely with families and care professionals on decisions about in-home care.
