Seniors often have old medications that are either expired or no longer needed just sitting in their medicine cabinets. These medications can pose a risk to a senior who may accidentally take them, and certain types of drugs could be enticing to people who shouldn’t have them. Disposing of your senior loved one’s medications should be part of your regular routine as a caregiver, and you can follow these strategies to make sure it’s done responsibly.
Watch the Expiration Dates
Expired medications should be removed from your loved one’s home as soon as possible. Make it a habit to go through the medicine cabinet once a month to check for items that have expired. If your loved one is taken off a medication or no longer needs it, those should be removed as well.
Check the Directions
Certain medications have labels that tell you how to dispose of them. For instance, your loved one’s prescription bottle may say to flush the contents when the drug is no longer needed. While you may worry about the effects of flushing medications into the water system, these instructions need to be followed to keep people safe. Flushing medication is typically recommended when the drug could pose a life-threatening risk to others. For instance, fentanyl patches are often required to be flushed immediately, since contact with them could be fatal to other humans and animals.
Medication management can be difficult for older adults with cognitive issues such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Aging in place can present a few challenges for seniors living with dementia. However, they can still live independently at home with the help of professional Dementia Care. Portland families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide their elderly loved ones with mental and social stimulation, timely medication reminders, assistance with meal prep, and much more. Our caregivers are available around the clock to help your loved one live a happier and healthier life.
Look for a Collection Site
Many communities have special drop-off locations where people are encouraged to bring their unneeded medications. These drop-off sites may be located at a police department, hospital, or other type of facility in your community where there are people who can be trusted to make sure the medication is disposed of properly. If you’re unsure of how to find a collection site, check with your loved one’s pharmacy to find out if one is in your area.
Assisting with medication management can be a challenging task for overworked caregivers. If you’re the primary family caregiver for an elderly loved one and need additional assistance providing high-quality in-home care, Assisting Hands Home Care can help. We are a leading home care agency committed to changing the way seniors age.
Follow Proper Trash Disposal Guidelines
In some cases, your best option is to throw medications away. Currently, it’s recommended to crush up pills and mix the powder with an unpleasant ingredient such as cat litter or coffee grounds. You can also mix liquids with similar ingredients. This step is to ensure addictive medications such as painkillers won’t be able to be ingested by anyone else. You also need to put these materials in a sealed bag or container to minimize the risk of the contents leaking out into the environment.
Remove All Personal Information
Prescription bottles contain a wealth of vital information about your loved one that a criminal could misuse. Use a black permanent marker to hide your loved one’s name, address, and any other personally identifying information. If the label is removable, shred it to further protect your loved one’s identity.
Older adults who need help managing their medications should consider professional home care services. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of Home Care. Portland families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. We will work with you to create a customized home care plan that’s suited for your loved one’s unique needs. Call the Assisting Hands Home Care team at 503-664-7934 today.
