subject: Home Care Guide To Spring Cleaning The Medicine Cabinet [print this page] From picking up prescriptions to providing daily medication reminders, elderly care providers help clients adhere to their medicine regime. If you or a loved one takes a number of over-the-counter or prescription medications, be proactive and "spring clean" the medicine cabinet to keep it organized, safe and more convenient.
It only takes a moment, and it is easy to do. Cleaning your medicine cabinet will make it easier to find what you need and can help you get rid of expired or unnecessary medications. Here are a few guidelines and suggestions for cleaning out your medicine supply:
Check Expiration Dates - Throw out any expired medications. You may be surprised at home many bottles are over six months past their expiration date. Expired medication, prescriptions or over the counter medicines may no longer be as safe or effective and should be discarded.
Organize Medications by Use - Store the medications you use often in a convenient place. This seems obvious, but how often do we keep that bottle of cough syrup or seasonal allergy medicine in with our daily vitamins? Keep daily medications in a smaller box or drawer where they are visible and easy to reach so you remember to take them. Store less frequently used medications, such as over-the-counter painkillers or creams, in the front of a medicine box or cabinet, and seasonal or specialty medications in the back until they are needed. This reduces clutter and makes it easy to find the right medicine when you need it.
Label Everything - Make sure all prescription and over-the-counter medications are labeled properly including the prescription name, dosage instructions, refill information and expiration date. If you or your loved ones have difficulty seeing, write the name of the medicine in large bold letters or request a special label from your pharmacist.
Check for Refills - Call in prescription refill requests to your doctor and make a list of over-the-counter products to stock up on during your next visit to the pharmacy. Elderly care services often provide services to pick up medicine and supplies for clients. Check with your home care service to schedule a pick-up or arrange transportation to the drug store.
Elderly care service providers help clients manage their medication regime. They are trained to work with client-specific medication profiles and ensure that all medication is taken on time and in accordance with physician orders. By following your loved one's medication profile, the elderly care service can help prevent medication non-compliance issues.
