CHRISTMAS can be a wonderful time but it can also be busy and stressful.
With presents to buy, cards to send and meals to plan and travel to organise, some things that are often second nature - such as taking medications at the right time and in the right dose - can fall by the wayside.
It's a problem which can be made worse when older Australians head off to see family and friends or set off on holiday.
"Taking multiple medications can be confusing at any time, and not just for our older population. It's not just about what drug you take when, but people need to know which ones to take before or after food, and if any of their medications don't mix well with certain foods," says Australian pharmacist Gerard Stevens.
"Research tells us that one in two elderly people who are prescribed more than one type of medication fail to take their medications properly. These risks only increase when you throw in a stressful occasion like Christmas especially when people are travelling away from home.
Some of the most common concerns about managing multiple medications include:
- Taking the correct dose, at the correct time
- Knowing whether each medication needs to be taken before or after food
- Ensuring medications are within their expiry date
- Running out of medication
- Concern that some medications may be contraindicated
- Knowing if particular foods need to be avoided with certain medications, e.g. grapefruit.
Stevens is chief executive of Webstercare which manufactures the Webster-pak.
The pak's compartments hold the correct dose of medication - down to a quarter of a tablet - and sets them out for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Bedtime for the entire week. Each Webster-pak is filled by the patient's pharmacist, ensuring accurate administration. The patient simply needs to pop the tablets out of the appropriate compartment at the right time.
Another option that is particularly useful for travellers and active seniors is the Personal Medication Planner, which is a portable, light-weight dose administration aid that protects medication from damage when stored in a handbag or luggage. As well as having the medications laid out in the correct dosages and times, the pack contains complete information for each medication, including cautionary labelling, safety considerations, and photos and details of each medication the person is taking.
"The Personal Medication Planner can be a real life-saver if the patient needs to see a doctor or is admitted to hospital while they're travelling," says Stevens, "as their full medication list is detailed, so the treating doctors can get a full understanding of the situation immediately."
