As you age, a little forgetfulness is normal. For example, you may forget where you put your car keys or have trouble remembering if you took meat out of the freezer to thaw. Memory disorders make it difficult to drive, prepare meals and carry out other important activities, making them a serious concern for seniors and their family members.
If your loved one has mild cognitive impairment, they have more thinking and memory problems than other people their age. Dementia is more serious, as it results in a loss of cognitive function. Seniors with dementia have difficulty thinking, reasoning, remembering and learning, making it difficult to pay bills, balance a checkbook, make medical decisions and perform other tasks. Dementia may also cause language difficulties, personality changes or difficulty paying attention.
Memory disorders interfere with a senior's ability to remember important information. For example, someone with dementia may take more medication than prescribed or forget to take their medications as scheduled. If your loved one has diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney failure, missing even one dose of medication can have serious consequences.
Seniors with memory disorders may also have trouble following the instructions on their prescription bottles. For example, they may swallow medications intended for topical use or break open extended-release capsules. These errors increase the risk of side effects, putting a senior's safety at risk.
Making this issue even more complex, people with dementia may find it difficult to pinpoint the source of their pain or make an accurate assessment of its severity. As a result, seniors with memory disorders may take more pain medications than needed, increasing the risk of overdose.
If your loved one has a memory disorder, there are several things you can do to help them take their medications as prescribed.
Let doctors, nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other health care providers know about your loved one's memory disorder. They need to know about your loved one's symptoms so they can take extra steps to prevent medication side effects and interactions.
Every time someone prescribes a new medication for your loved one, research the medication carefully. Write down the brand name, the generic name, the potential side effects and any other information you need to keep your loved one safe. If necessary, download an app to help you keep track of each medication.
You can't be with your loved one every second of the day. To prevent problems when you're not around, create a detailed list of medications. Include the name of the drug, the daily dosage, the route of administration and the reason your loved one needs the drug. Here's an example:
Drug Name
Dosage
Route of Administration
Reason for Taking
Aspirin
81 milligrams daily
Oral
Prevent blood clots
Lasix
20 milligrams twice per day
Oral
Eliminate excess fluid caused by kidney disease
Metoprolol
50 milligrams twice per day
Oral
Slow heart rate/prevent angina
Medication organizers have multiple compartments for storing medications. One of the benefits of using an organizer is that you just have to open the correct compartment and give your loved one the pills inside, eliminating the need to take pills out of several bottles each day.
If you want to try a pill organizer, think about the following:
A few companies make automated pill dispensers to help older adults keep better track of their medications. If you don't live with your loved one, using one of these dispensers can help reduce the risk of medication errors. All you have to do is program a medication schedule and add pills to the containers that come with the dispenser.
Once it's all set up, the machine follows your schedule, dispensing medications at just the right times. Some dispensers will even alert you if a certain amount of time passes without your loved one taking their pills.
Eventually, your loved one may need more help than you can provide at home. It may be time for memory care if you notice any of the following:
