In this 3-part series about Senior Medication Management, we learn what the 5 Rights of medication management mean, what medication coverage Medicaid offers and understanding the terminology around medication management.

Senior Medication Management

As people get older, senior medication management can get more and more difficult. If you’ve ever experienced a loved one forgetting their medication, losing their medication, or taking the wrong medication at the wrong time, you know how hard it can be to make sure they get what they need when they need it.

That’s why we offer senior medication management at Dayspring Villa. We make sure people get their medication the right way at the right time so they can thrive. To ensure we always get medications right, we follow what is known as the 5 Rights.

The 5 Rights and Senior Medication Management

The 5 Rights of medication management are essential safety standards your loved one is entitled to when receiving medications. They also serve as key principles our care partners follow closely to help make sure medications are handled safely and correctly every time.

We check and double check so you can feel confident that your loved one is getting the medication support they need.

The 5 Rights are:

The Right Patient. We make sure we verify that the person we are giving medication to is the person who is supposed to receive it. We check the label on the medication and make sure we know the person’s identity before we give out any medications. If someone new is dispensing medications, we make sure they have the resources they need to give the right medicines to the right person.
The Right Drug. We work hard to ensure that the medication your loved one is getting is the one they were prescribed by their doctor. If we have any questions, we will work with you to verify the medication with the doctor before we dispense it.
The Right Time. We have the background and experience necessary to understand that many medications need to be given at certain times. We make sure we know when your loved one’s medications are supposed to be given, then give them at those times. We can time them around meals, sleep, waking up, and more.
The Right Dose. Our care team confirms the dose that was prescribed and the dose we are giving every time. Even if we give the same medications to the same people every day, we check the dose each time. If it changes or something seems off, we verify how much medication needs to be given every time.
The Right Route. Medications can be pills, tablets, liquid, or even administered via IV. Our team ensures that we are giving each member of the community their medication exactly the way the doctor prescribed it. When we have questions, we ask before we give the medication to make sure we get it right.

How We Support Every Resident’s 5 Rights

We have processes and procedures in place at Dayspring Villa to make sure your loved one always has the 5 Rights they are entitled to when it comes to their medication management. These include:

Staff with Training in Medication Management. These staff members understand medications and can help your loved one take theirs if they can’t self-administer them anymore. They will document when medications are taken or refused, as well as questions and concerns that come up around any medication.
Medication Oversight. Our care partners regularly check in with skilled supervisors when it comes to medication management. This allows them to address any problems quickly, so your loved one can get the medications they need when they need them.
Personalized Medication Plan. We can work closely with your loved one’s healthcare providers to ensure that their medication needs are always met. This allows us to ask any questions we have and to understand what the physician envisions regarding senior medication management.
Regular Communication. We talk to our community members openly and regularly about the importance of their medications and taking them as directed, and we encourage you to talk to your loved one about their medications, too. This can help them understand why each medication they take is important and motivate them to follow through on taking them regularly.
Working with You. We know that you and your loved one have a special connection, and we work to build a connection with you, too. This makes it easier for us all to communicate about medications, including changes, concerns, and more. Open communication makes the process easier for everyone.

Get Support with Senior Medication Management Today

Senior medication management doesn’t have to cause stress and anxiety. At Dayspring Villa, we follow the 5 Rights so you don’t have to worry about your loved one and their medications. We partner with you to offer a caring and supportive place for your loved one, where you can feel confident they are getting everything they need. Let us help you take the guesswork out of medication management, so you can focus on what matters most, spending meaningful time with your loved one.

Senior Medication Management: 3-Part Series

Part 1: What are the Five R’s of Medication Management – Discover about the Five R’s of medication management and how Dayspring Villa helps your loved one get their medication the right way at the right time so they can thrive.

Part 2: Medicaid Coverage for Senior Medication Management– Explore how Medicaid coverage for senior medication management can provide the support you need.

Part 3:Medication Management Glossary – Understand the terminology surrounding medication management is essential for safe and effective treatment.