Senior assisted living communities are a great alternative to nursing homes, offering residents the opportunity to age in place with a high level of independence and support. Most senior assisted living communities in Ducktown, GA provides residents with meals, cleaning services, transportation assistance, and other amenities designed to help adults in their golden years maintain their independence while still receiving the care they need. When residents cannot take care of themselves or their medication needs change, it’s important for them to be welcomed into an environment where they feel comfortable talking about those changes rather than being forced into them without choice.
In this article we explain how a senior assisted living in Ducktown, GA can handle refusals of medications so that you can make an informed decision about where you want your loved one to live if he or she needs more assistance than your family can provide at home alone 24/7.
They Know That The Medication Is Important To Their Residents
You may be surprised to learn that many senior assisted living communities are aware that medication is important to their residents. They will do what they can to help their clients, but they also understand how important it is for senior citizens to be aware of the consequences of their actions. If you or someone you know has refused medication and then experienced a decline in health, it’s time for a serious conversation with your doctor about whether or not assisted living would benefit them now or in the future.
The Staff Will Determine If The Resident Is Aware Of Their Actions
In the case of a resident unaware of their actions, the caregivers will determine if the resident is aware of their actions. If they are, then it is possible that your loved one does not want to take their medication. In this case, you may have to wait until after they have had some time to think about it or try again later in the day when they are calmer and more receptive to taking it.
If you suspect that there may be an underlying cause for this behavior (such as pain), then it’s important that you contact your loved one’s doctor immediately so he/she can help determine what might be causing these issues and how best address them.
They Will Review All Treatment Options With Family Members, If Necessary
If you have concerns about the side effects of a medication, your senior assisted living community will work with you and the doctor to find a way to manage those issues. If there are problems with the medication, but it’s necessary for your health, they may suggest changing dosages or trying another drug altogether.
Family members should be part of the decision-making process. This can help ensure that your loved one’s wishes are met and also help you avoid any conflicts with caregivers or other family members. If you’re not sure whether your loved one wants to continue taking certain medications, you may want to ask:
- Are there any side effects from this medication?
- How does it affect her ability to do daily activities?
If the medication has helped improve his health, but he no longer needs it because of a change in his health status or condition, he might not want to continue taking it anymore. However, if he still needs treatment for an ongoing illness (like diabetes), he should continue taking his medication as prescribed by his doctor until otherwise instructed by another medical professional such as an endocrinologist or cardiologist.
Conclusion
Many older adults may have an aversion to taking medications either from mistrust of medicine or from not being able to afford them, so it is helpful that communities are knowledgeable about this issue and how they can handle it delicately with the senior citizen involved. If you are looking for an assisted living community, it is important to consider how they handle medication refusal. If the facility has experts who are knowledgeable about this issue and can work with residents to respect their wishes while still keeping them safe, then you may have found the right place!
