A major challenge for families attempting to take care of their senior family members is when they become confrontational, particularly when they refuse to take their prescribed medications that are critical for their health and well-being. This can become a difficult situation for both the families and the seniors themselves. Learn more about what can be done for this difficult situation below.

Think About Why Seniors Are Refusing to Take the Medication?

An important question to consider is why your loved ones are refusing to take their important medications.  One common reason is the side effects they get from taking these medications.  These side effects can include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and dry mouth. As a result, many seniors will think that these medications are not helping them and actually making their health condition even worse, which often leads to them not wanting to take the medications.

An other common reason is that these medications do not usually provide immediate benefits and results, which can frustrate seniors and make them think that they are not working for them. It is important for you to remind them that these medications are ones that take time to work; while it can be frustrating to not see immediate results, reassure them that the medications do work and that they need to be patient to see the benefits.

A third common reason is that the instructions for taking these medications can be difficult to understand and follow. Seniors who are confused often feel it is best to just skip those medications altogether.

A fourth common reason is that seniors just forget to take them in the recommended dosages at the specified times because of memory loss, particularly because of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Caregivers in Senior Home Care in Frederick, MD, and the Surrounding Are as Recommend the Following:

CapitalCity Nurses recommends having quality in-home care services to assist in providing a safe home environment for your elderly loved ones, including Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. We provide in-home care, rehab and post-op, and medication management as part of our senior care services in Frederick, MD and the surrounding areas.

Our companionship care and senior care program enable us to provide emotional support for your loved ones’ senior brain health, which can aid them in understanding why they need to take their prescribed medications regularly and be less confrontational about taking them.

Conclusion

Trying to take care of your elderly loved ones by yourself and getting them to take their prescribed medications on a regular basis is a monumental challenge that can cause a great deal of stress and strain for all involved, including the seniors themselves and other family members. The stress and strain can negatively impact the health and well-being of all family members, including the seniors you are trying to take care of.

Allow Capital City Nurses to help you by letting our experienced caregivers aid your efforts of providing a safe and supportive home environment that shows your elderly family members they have the emotional support they need to handle the difficulties of their health condition and why taking their prescribed medications is critical to maintaining their overall health and well-being.