Caregivers can be overwhelmed with the number of medications that their loved ones need to take on a daily basis. Medication errors are too common, with administration of drugs accounting for 38 percent of errors. According to the ALARIS Center for Medication Safety and Clinical Improvement, at least 7,000 deaths annually are blamed on medication errors.

There are many options on the market for organization system. Deciding which one is right for your family needs to be the driving force behind the system that you ultimately choose. Most all of us are familiar with pill organizer boxes with various slots for time of day and days of the week. There are other options, though, that can be just as effective when implemented consistently.
There are many issues to consider when setting up an organization system for your loved one. Some of these include:

• How old is the person who is taking medication? Are they old enough to take their own medication or do they need someone else to give it for them?

• Are they capable of taking their medication independent of your help? Perhaps your loved one needs help in keeping track of which medications need to be given at a particular time of day, but they may be capable of choosing the correct medication from the shelf.

• Do they have impaired eyesight? Would it help to have larger print on the bottles?

• Does your loved one understand why they take each medication? (NOTE: Patients with some level of dementia and even children may not be able to comprehend the medications given.) It is important that persons understand the reason behind the medication to the best of their ability. As people age the answer, “because the doctor said so,” may not be acceptable.

• Will others who may assist with caregiving be able to understand the system readily? If you leave town or are a long-distance caregiver, the system needs to be readily understandable to other friends, family, or even paid caregivers who may be in the household while you are away.

• Is the system flexible so that changes in medications and dosing schedules can be adjusted? It is not uncommon for doctors to change medications when there are chronic conditions involved. Be sure to develop a system that can adapt to these modifications and be implemented without confusion to your loved one.

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