By M. Simon
There are also options to consider if the
condition of the person you are caring for
begins to deteriorate. For example, if problems
develop with his or her ability to swallow,
there may be some pills that can be changed to a
liquid or even given through a small butterfly
needle in the skin. Some newer medications are
actually a combination of two or three different
drugs and using them could decrease the total
number of pills consumed daily.
Another aspect to consider, especially if his
or her condition is worsening, is whether they
really require all those medications. If
grandmother, who is well into her ninth decade,
is truly failing, does she really need that
cholesterol pill or that Alzheimer’s drug? Maybe
it’s time to have a family discussion with the
physician and ask the question, “Have we reached
the point where we are treating the disease
instead of the patient?” One of the benefits of
modern medicine is that we have so many
wonderful drugs to combat the detrimental
aspects of aging and disease. However, just
because these drugs now exist doesn’t always
mean it’s in the best interest of the client to
use them.
The use of medicines is one aspect of
caregiving that will not disappear in the
foreseeable future. It is a complicated and
precise job that requires concentration and
adherence to a rigorous schedule. The
aforementioned tips are meant to simplify this
task and make life that much easier for the
caregiver in your family.
M. Simon is a practicing
family physician in eastern Canada. He has
worked extensively in mental health, geriatrics
and palliative care in both the hospital setting
and in the community. His writing credits
include fiction and nonfiction works with the
most recent nonfiction articles appearing in The
Medical Post, The Physician’s Chronicle,
Physician’s Review and Stitches Magazine.
