When you have loved ones living in senior retirement communities, it is only natural to be worried about how they’re doing and if they’re adhering to their plan of care or not. When your loved one is living life to the fullest at their retirement residence of choice, it may be that they get so busy, that they don’t remember to take their medication!
Most medications only work their best when they are taken daily, so it’s important that they take their medications at the same time every day while they enjoy life in their senior retirement community.
But you can’t be there all the time, and you have to respect their independence. You may ask yourself, what are some of the best ways to make sure they are taking medications? We’ve got some tips that we hope will help you and your seniors.
Three Ways to Help Loved Ones Living in Senior Retirement Communities
- Get them a pill box to help keep everything organized. Depending on what schedule of medication they are on, you can get different types of pill boxes. Some people only have to take a few pills, one time a day, so a pill box with just one compartment for every day of the week will do. But if they take medication in the morning and at night, you may want to investigate getting them a pill box that has a day and night slot for every day of the week. Having one of these tools will be a physical reminder of whether they have taken their medication yet or not.
- Speak to retirement residence staff that interact with your loved one daily and see if they can gently remind them about their medication. This is something you’ll want to first discuss with them, because sometimes this could make them feel patronized instead of cared for.
- Make sure they know how important their medication is. It might be helpful for you and your loved one to talk to their doctor about what their medication does to help them on a daily basis, and the medical reasons why daily adherence to medication is an important part of taking it.
If you find none of these methods work, it’s important that you talk more to the medical and care professionals that work with your senior every day to figure out a solution that works best for them.
The Best Retirement Senior Living Community in Oakville
If you or a loved one are looking for a community that cares for its residents and enriches their retirement life, we’d love for you to take a look at Queens Avenue Retirement Residence. We’re excited to meet you!
