Signs Your Elder Loved One Isn’t Taking Their Medications (& Tips for Getting Back on Track)
I know you’re a dedicated and compassionate care partner. You try so hard to provide a safe, caring and nurturing environment, but it can be mind-numbingly difficult to manage and monitor EVERYTHING. Never is that more apparent than when your elder loved one isn’t taking their medications.
Sometimes it’s glaringly apparent. Perhaps your mom is acting disoriented because she’s been missing a dementia-related medication. Or your aging brother’s blood pressure and cholesterol numbers were off the charts during their latest doctor visit.
Other times, the signs aren’t so easily noticed. Failure to adhere to prescriptions might stem from the common struggle for older adults simply to remember their medication list. It could also be outright avoidance.
Whether it’s due to forgetfulness, side effects or other reasons, nonadherence can have serious consequences on their health. In this blog, we’ll share some signs that may indicate your loved one isn’t taking their medications and offer practical tips to help them get back on track.
Recognizing the Signs Your Loved One is Avoiding or Missing Medications & Treatments
From health declines to evasive behavior, these are some things both primary and professional care partners should look out for:
1. Sudden Health Decline or Recurrence of Symptoms
One of the clearest indicators that your elder loved one might not be taking their medications as prescribed is a sudden decline in health. Sometimes, this may come in the form of a recurrence of symptoms that had previously been under control. For instance, if their blood pressure spikes or their diabetes symptoms return, it’s worth investigating whether they are following their medication regimen.
It’s important while assessing declines in health to recognize normal vs. abnormal signs of the natural aging process. If you’re unsure, contact a primary care provider to help you make such determinations.
2. Unusual Behavior or Mood Changes
Medications play a crucial role in managing not just physical health, but also mental health. Millions of older adults take prescriptions from common ailments like anxiety to specialized treatments for more severe disorders like Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.
Be on the lookout for unexplained mood swings, increased irritability, other behavioral changes, or regressions in memory and cognition. It could be a sign that they are not taking their medications properly – or not at all.
3. Confusion or Memory Problems
On a similar note, older adults with cognitive issues may forget to take their medications. But individuals don’t have to be living with dementia to experience forgetful moments commonly associated with age.
If your loved one seems more confused than usual or is having trouble remembering daily tasks, they may also be forgetting their prescriptions.
4. Full Medication Bottles
Keep an eye on their medication bottles. If your loved one is relatively aware cognitively, you may be inclined to give them space and trust that they’re following the doctor’s recommendations. But it may be wise to “trust, but verify.”
You may encounter a bottle that should be nearly empty but still looks full. Putting 2 and 2 together, this would be an obvious indicator that doses are being missed regularly. Similarly, if there are no signs of refills when there should be, it’s time to investigate further.
5. Resistance to Taking Medications
Your loved one may become defensive or evasive when it’s time to take their medication. They may ask to be left alone during advised medication administration times. This could be a sign they’re avoiding having to take them.
This behavior can stem from various concerns, such as unpleasant side effects or a lack of understanding about the importance of their medications.
6. Unexplained Physical Symptoms
Pay attention to any unexplained physical symptoms, such as dizziness, fatigue or gastrointestinal issues. These can sometimes be linked to missed doses or improper medication management.
Tips to Help Your Loved One Follow Their Prescription Medication Regimen
If you’re thinking your elder loved one isn’t taking their medications, for any reason, here are some tips to get realigned.
1. Open Communication
It’s amazing how many things in life can be fixed with open and honest communication. Begin by having an open and non-judgmental conversation with your loved one. Ask them if they have been taking their medications and listen to any concerns they may have. Explain your concern for negative health consequences if they continue to not take them.
Begin from an area of trust. Even if they’ve been avoidant – or even somewhat “sneaky” – that doesn’t mean they’d automatically lie when confronted. They may even open up about their own concerns.
Understanding their perspective can help you address root causes.
2. Address Side Effects
Your loved one may have very reasonable and justifiable concerns about their prescription medications – even if they’re having difficulty expressing them. Many meds do indeed come with wide-ranging side effects that can make older adults feel icky or cause more serious medical consequences.
If your loved one is experiencing unpleasant side effects, they might be reluctant to take their medications. Discuss these side effects with their healthcare provider to explore alternative treatments or solutions that can mitigate these issues.
3. Simplify the Medication Routine
Complex medication schedules can be confusing. More than 20% of elders take five or more medications daily. Even the most aware people could easily forget a high volume of prescriptions, which must often be taken at different times in various ways.
If it’s a matter of confusion, work with the individual’s healthcare provider(s) to simplify the regimen, if possible. This might involve switching to once-daily medications or using combination pills.
(The next two sections address more simplification techniques.)
4. Use Medication Management Tools
There are various tools available to help manage medications. Pill organizers, automated dispensers and medication reminder apps can make it easier for your loved one to remember to take their meds on time.
5. Set Up a Reminder System
Help your loved one establish a routine that includes reminders for medication times. This could be as simple as setting alarms on their phone, downloading a scheduling app or using another type of reminder service.
Consistent timing can help make medication-taking a habit.
6. Educate on the Importance of Adherence
Sometimes nonadherence stems from a lack of understanding about the importance of the medication. Don’t assume your elder knows what their meds help to improve – or the consequences of missing prescription times.
Perhaps they’re not skipping their meds entirely, but merely missing doses every now and again. Many prescriptions require the ongoing introduction of medicine over time to achieve a desired goal. Educate the individual – in a way that’s easy to understand – why it’s necessary and how they contribute to their overall health.
7. Involve a Healthcare Professional
Sometimes it’s better when an individual “hears it straight from the horse’s mouth,” so to speak. Schedule regular check-ins with their healthcare provider to monitor their medication regimen. A professional can reinforce the importance of adherence and make any necessary adjustments to their treatment plan.
8. Provide Emotional Support
Empathy and loving support can be all that’s needed. Nonadherence can sometimes be a cry for help or an indication of underlying emotional struggles. When a loved one isn’t taking their medications, they sometimes just wish to feel heard and understood.
So give them what they need! Offer them emotional support and reassurance, as you would anything else in the course of your caregiving duties.
9. Encourage a Healthy Lifestyle
Beyond emotional support, we all need a little encouragement – a push from a devoted cheerleader. Even the most mentally and emotionally fit among us need it now and again.
A healthy lifestyle can complement their medication regimen and incentivize following it. Encourage a balanced diet, regular exercise and stress-management techniques to improve their overall well-being. This should all be part of a well-rounded life-care plan that factors EVERYTHING for A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
What Should You Do If Your Aging Loved One Isn’t Taking Their Medications?
Following a prescribed medication routine is crucial for improving and maintaining your loved one’s health and well-being. But sometimes it’s apparent the individual isn’t taking their medications.
Here we’ve covered some signs they may not be following their medical team’s recommendations, as well as some tips for getting back on track. By recognizing the signs and taking proactive steps to address it, we can help ensure elder individuals receive the full benefits of their prescribed treatments.
With patience, understanding, and the right tools, we can support our loved ones in staying on track and enjoying a better quality of life. As a Board-certified Patient Advocate in the state of Florida, I’m here to provide those tools. If you need guidance, feel free to reach out for a chat.
