1. Safe Medicines Seniors
for

2. Objectives
Inform caregivers about safe use issues, practices and resources
Present some general knowledge related to medicine
Introduce Safe Medicines for Seniors: A Guide for Caregivers
How to use the tool
Why it should be used
Answer any questions
SLIDE 2

3. Seniors & Medicine
People react differently to medicine as they age. Example:
Digestive system slows down and medicine is absorbed more slowly
Older people tend to take more medicine; therefore, there could be more medicine- related problems.
SLIDE 3

4. Caregivers
A caregiver – a friend, relative or neighbour who helps someone with daily living or health- related activities such as:
Helping someone with medicine
Arranging transportation to and from appointments
Recognizing problems and discussing them with a health care professional
Picking up prescriptions
Checking on someone on a regular basis
SLIDE 4

5. What is Medicine?
Medicine is almost anything a person takes to feel better or become healthy, including:
prescription medicines
medicines that can be purchased without a prescription (e.g., Tylenol)
natural health products like herbal medicines
Medicine comes in different forms including:
tablets, capsules, pills, liquids, puffers (inhalers), creams, patches, drops, needles, suppositories, and ointments
SLIDE 5

6. What are Side Effects?
Symptoms medicines can cause besides what they are meant to do
Example: Dizziness
If you think someone is having
a bad reaction to a medicine call the pharmacist or go to the hospital.
SLIDE 6

7. Common Mistakes with Medicine
Taking the wrong dose
Not finishing medicine
Using expired or discontinued medicine
Sharing medicine with others
Mixing medicine with alcohol
Forgetting to take medicine at right time
Stopping and starting medicine instead of
continuing regularly
SLIDE 7

8. Common Reasons for Misuse
Not believing medicine is needed
Belief that more is better
Hesitation to question the doctor
Doctor/pharmacist seems too busy or explains too quickly
Complicated schedule
Not understanding how long it takes before effects are felt
Don’t like the side effects
SLIDE 8

9. Common Problems when Taking Medicine
Lids on medicine containers hard to open
Instructions on labels hard to read or understand
Pills too large to swallow easily
Timing of when to take medicine
Medicine too expensive to take or waste
SLIDE 9

10. Safe Storage of Medicine
Do not store medicine in bathroom or kitchen.
Do not store medicine in any place too warm.
Do store medicine in a:
Cool, dark, dry and secure place
Cupboard
Fridge – only some medicines.
Minimize the number of times bottles are opened.
Keep all medicine together for convenience.
Keep medicine away from children and pets.
SLIDE 10

11. Caregiver and Pharmacist
A pharmacist is the caregiver’s best resource for medicines.
Use only one pharmacy.
Your pharmacist:
Keeps a record of all medicines
Gives information, practical tips and advice
Works with other health care professionals to help you manage health conditions.
SLIDE 11

12. Caregiver and Doctor
Caregivers can help seniors with doctor appointments in many ways:
Write down questions and things to discuss.
Take the person to and from appointments.
Bring list of medicines or the medicines themselves.
Ask questions and be informed.
If necessary, ask the doctor for a referral (e.g., to a dietician).
SLIDE 12

13. Medicine-Taking Process
Complex with many steps; mistakes can happen
Communication and decision-making important
Step 1: Deciding to see a doctor
Step 2: Communicating problem
Step 3: Filling prescription and using medicine
SLIDE 13

14. Safe Medicines for Seniors A Guide for Caregivers
SLIDE 14

15. Purpose of a Guide for Caregivers
Help you identify problems you or the person you help may have with medicine
Show you how to respond to problems (there may be simple ways you can help)
SLIDE 15

16. How to Use the Guide Answer all the questions in the checklist on the
left-hand side
If you answer yes to any of the questions, check the tips on the opposite page to find out what you can do.
If you notice anything else, make a note, then talk to the doctor or pharmacist about it.
Go through each section and answer the questions.
SLIDE 16

17. Example 1 Section 1: Any Problems Taking Medicine?
You answer yes to the question: “Did the person take the wrong medicine at any time?” (Page 10)
Then, find the tip for that question on the opposite page: “If yes, try and find out why and what happened. There are simple ways to help if the person is taking many kinds of medicine, like using a pillbox marked for each day.” (Page 11)
SLIDE 17

18. Example 2 Section 5: Any Changes in the Person?
You answer yes to any of the questions. (Page 32)
Then, find the tip on the opposite page.
It says:(Page 33) “If yes, to any of these questions, describe the specific change and tell the doctor and pharmacist right away. The problems may go away, or may be a sign of new problems.”
SLIDE 18

19. Guide Sections SLIDE 19 Section Title Page # 1.
Any Problems Taking Medicine? 10 2.
Any Problems with Mind or Body? 16 3.
Any Other Problems with the Medicine? 24 4.
Any Changes in Medicine? 30 5.
Any Changes in the Person? 32
SLIDE 19

20. Section 1: Any Problems Taking Medicine?
SLIDE 20

21. Checklist Question Examples
Is the person taking someone else’s medicine?
Did the person take the wrong medicine at any time?
Did the person take the wrong dose (too much or too little of the medicine)?
SLIDE 21

22. Section 2: Any Problems with Mind or Body?
SLIDE 22

23. Checklist Question Examples
Does the person forget to take medicine, or forget how to take it?
Does the person have trouble seeing or reading labels?
Does the person have trouble opening medicine bottles?
SLIDE 23

24. Section 3: Any Other Problems with the Medicine?
SLIDE 24

25. Checklist Question Examples
Is the person afraid of side effects?
Does the person need more help with medicine, or want more information?
Does the person drink beer, wine or liquor when on medicine?
SLIDE 25

26. Section 4: Any Changes in Medicine?
SLIDE 26

27. Checklist Question Examples
Has the person’s medicine changed lately? (e.g., in the last two to four weeks)
Has the person been in the hospital lately? (e.g., in the last two to four weeks)
SLIDE 27

28. Section 5: Any Changes in the Person?
SLIDE 28

29. Checklist Question Examples
Has the person had any changes in appetite?
Has the person had any changes in behaviour, memory, mood, or thoughts?
Has the person had any changes in sleeping?
SLIDE 29

30. Other Parts of the Guide
Useful things to know about the person taking medicine (Page 36)
Chart to keep track of medicine (Page 38)
List of questions for the doctor, pharmacist or specialist for every prescription (Page 40)
General information about medicine
SLIDE 30

31. Person Taking the Medicine
It may be useful to know whether the person you’re helping has:
Allergies
Arthritis
Bladder problems
Breathing problems
Cancer
Circulation problems
Constipation
Depression or other mental illness
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Heart problems
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Intolerance to certain medicines
Kidney disease (impaired kidneys)
Low iron in blood (anemia)
Pain
Sleeping problems
Stomach problems
Stroke
SLIDE 31

32. Do You Know? When was the person’s last:
Doctor’s visit
Talk with a pharmacist
Specialist’s appointment
Telephone numbers and addresses of doctor’s office, pharmacy and specialist’s office
SLIDE 32

33. When to Use the Guide Every few months
If there are any medicine changes
If the person visits a hospital
SLIDE 33

34. Wrap-Up
In the next couple of weeks, use Safe Medicines for Seniors: A Guide for Caregivers.
Go through each section and answer the questions.
If you answer yes to any questions, use the tips to find out how you can help.
You may be instructed to talk to the person’s pharmacist or doctor.
SLIDE 34

35. Questions?
SLIDE 35

36. Thank you for your participation!
SLIDE 36