Managing your medication on a daily and weekly basis can be a daunting task, particularly if you take several prescription or over-the-counter meds. Missed doses or accidental overdoses can lead to serious medical consequences, but these six tips for managing your medication can help ensure you’re taking exactly what you need, when you need it.
1. Invest In a Pill Sorter
A pill sorter can be a lifesaver for people who have to take medication on a daily basis — and even more so if you have to take medication at various times throughout the day. You can find pill sorters that have between one and four slots for every day of the week, ensuring your pills are presorted for the correct delivery time. Many of these pill sorters are also specially designed with seniors in mind, so they’re easy to open and close even with arthritic fingers.
2. Set an Appointment to Sort Your Pills
Sort your pills at the exact same time every single week by making an appointment with yourself. The routine of a weekly pill sorting time makes you more familiar with all of the medications you take, serves as a reminder of exactly when each med must be taken and gives you time to get each pill into each slot in the pill sorter. The repetition and routine of doing this helps reinforce your understanding of when to take which medication.
3. Reminders, Reminders, Reminders
Set recurring reminders on your phone or tablet to go off each time you need to take a medication. Pick a special ringtone that you associate only with taking medication so that when these reminders sound off, you know exactly what you need to do.
4. Consider Pre-Bagged Medications
Medication delivery services that mail your medications to you from a special pharmacy each week are a great way to manage your pills. Your medication arrives presorted and pre-bagged, and you'll have one little container of medication to take at each appropriate time on your schedule. Is Tuesday at 8 a.m. medication time? Simply look for the baggie that’s already labeled “Tuesday 8 a.m.”
5. Utilize Nurses, Aides and Med Techs
Right within the Autumn View Gardens community in Creve Coeur, you have access to staff who can help you sort medications and administer them appropriately. These trained professionals help you with any questions you have about the medications, and if they don’t know the answer to your questions, they can help you get in touch with someone from your doctor’s office who does.
6. Get a Pill Pal
Are you on a similar medication routine as one of your friends? Become pill pals and help each other sort out your medications each week and remind each other to take your pills each day. Having mutual support can ensure that you’re staying on track with your medications and staying healthy.
Remember to check with your primary care doctor about all medications you take, particularly if they have been prescribed by multiple physicians or if you have added over-the-counter medications to your routine.
