Over the last few years, there have been some shifts in medical care, leading to a shift toward a more technologically focused approach to care. One of the side effects of this is that there has been a move toward a “Netflix” like use of pharmacy needs. Mail order medications have become much safer and have gone from a risky idea, to a mainstream trend. This is wholly due to better tracking and technology, and the end result is that people that need to get meds, but have difficulty getting out of the house, are given one more viable option when it comes to managing their health.
This is especially helpful for senior citizens, particularly homebound elderly people. Studies are beginning to show that mail order medications are more likely to be taken correctly than pharmacy pickups are. This is encouraging, and adds a measure of validation to the need for these services. There are, of course, some issues with this measure of looking at things, simply because the people that order meds online, or through the phone are more likely to be cognizant of what they are doing, they are more likely to be able to use technology and set reminders for taking their meds, and so on. The bottom line is, though, that mail order services add an element of convenience to the whole process, making access to prescription drugs far easier, and much more realistic for those elderly folk that do not get out of the house with the same level of ease that they used to.
Homebound seniors need more than just their medications. They need companionship, love, and assistance with their daily concerns. But taking care of medications is a vital step, and while this doesn’t help with everything, it is a big step in the right direction when done safely.
There are some concerns about mail order medications. One problem, particularly with those that might have Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, is that people forget to take their medications. This is going to be a problem with anyone that has this issue, and using a mail order service is not going to make it any worse or any better. The benefit of something like this is that it eliminates a major step in the process: leaving the home and going to the pharmacy. Some local pharmacies have attempted to correct this issue by having a delivery service, but this is not present in all communities and with all pharmacies. If you have an elderly loved one that has issues remembering to take their medications, neither of these approaches will help them to remember. By having a caregiver in the house with them, either as an in-home care professional or as a responsible family caregiver, this problem can be avoided. Your loved one may not need assistance around the house, and that’s fine, but having someone checking in on them with regularity to ensure that meds are being taken and other necessities are being addressed is smart either way.
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