SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 · 7 Rodriguez said, because afternoon and eve-ning pills are the ones most often forgotten. Emily Anderson, a care coach with a specialty in aging with Familylinks, also sug-gested removing any medication from the house that’s no longer needed. “Meds sometimes change every time you go to the doctor, so if you only have the ones you’re supposed to be taking it’s a lot easier to not get things mixed up,” she said. It can also be helpful, Anderson said, in the case of a family where more than one person is responsible for caregiving that one be designated in charge of minding medica-tions and doctor’s appointments. That way, it’s easier to avoid mistakes that can occur when multiple people are trying to help fill the pillbox and keep things in order. Speaking of pillboxes, the options these days range from the basic plastic containers with compartments for day and time to high-tech gadgets that lock and unlock at prede-termined times, give audio and/or visual prompts that it’s time to take medication and even alert caregivers via text or phone call if a dose is missed. Even the boxes with all the bells and whistles don’t always guarantee adherence, however. “Just this week I heard of a woman who had a pillbox like that and what she’d do was dispense the pills when she was notified to take them, but then she’d pour them into a cup or set them in her hand, put them down and walk away and forget to take them,” Rodriguez said. “Even with the fancy models, you can still forget to take them.” One last thing Rodriguez advised was to have a conversation with loved ones about their goals for care and whether the risk fac-tors that can be associated with medications are worth staving off an event that might never happen. It’s something that he said can be particu-larly hard on adult children who want to protect mom or dad at all costs or might not want to accept that fact that it could be time to give up something such as blood pressure or cholesterol medication. “Some people want to cover all their bases while other people don’t want to be on any-thing,” he said. “If your goal is to reduce the risk of stroke and that’s important, then take the pill. If you’re willing to play the odds and don’t want to take that pill every day for the rest of your life for something that might not happen, let’s agree that’s your prerogative.” Pillboxes today range from the standard plastic variety to ones able to emit an alert when it’s time to take a medication. However, it’s always important to double-check on someone you’re caring for, according to Dr. Eric Rodriguez of the Pitt School of Medicine. “Even with the fancy models, you can still forget to take them,” he said. GETTY IMAGES # G re a t P l a c e To Wo r k # G re a t P l a c e To L i v e Welcome to the Family At Newhaven Court at Linwood, we’ve designed a home-like environment that fosters a sense of comfort and familiarity combined with a state-of-the-art Senior Living Community. Call for more information or see us online. At Newhaven Court at Linwood, you will enjoy: • Nutritious meals served in our dining room • A professional team of caregivers available to meet your needs 24 hours a day • Short-term respite stays available if needed • A variety of activities to keep you busy each day • Transportation if and when needed • A great place to share with friends and family Call us today for a tour ormore information (888)261-8178 IntegraCare.com 100 FreedomWay Greensburg, PA 15601 SENIOR LIVING • MEMORY CARE ™ adno=6422204
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