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Home & Hearth’s Top Tips for Managing Senior Medications

Are your senior loved ones taking medications right now? Are you sure they’re taking them the right way? Studies show that the average individual over age 65 is taking a plethora of prescriptions – as many as 15 – 18 of them each day. And, 55% of those prescription drugs are not being taken correctly for a number of reasons, with dangerous consequences. Knowing more about your own prescriptions and those your senior loved ones are taking can help avoid dangerous medication mistakes and allow for the maximum benefits of the medications. The following are some tips to help manage...

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Proper Medication Adherence Saves Lives!

While many people may think they are following the rules when it comes to their prescriptions, medication adherence mistakes happen frequently, and the effects can be disastrous – particularly for older adults, often leading to hospitalization. In other instances, seniors intentionally avoid following the prescribing doctor’s recommendations – such as by cutting prescriptions in half to save money and make the medication last longer, or by avoiding the medication altogether, feeling as though it’s not necessary or causes unwanted side effects. It’s crucial to ensure that a medication is never stopped or modified without first consulting the physician. Yet for...

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Medication Misuse Among Seniors is More Common, and Dangerous, Than You Think

Most of us recognize that medications can be life-saving, but many of us have heard alarming reports about patients who have received incorrect medication – either as a consequence of an issue with the doctor or pharmacy. What many people don’t think about is that there is a hidden risk even when we get the right medication -- the hazard of medication misuse. As with driving down the wrong side of the road, medication misuse with a prescription medication is dangerous. As a matter of fact, it is more so -- as many as 125,000 people die every year because...

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Improving Medication Management for Seniors Vastly Improves Health Outcomes

There are an astounding 10,000+ prescription medicines available in America, and as many as one-third of all adults take five or more of these medications each day. If you happen to be a caregiver for a senior friend or family member, the difficulty of managing the prescriptions, interactions and dosage amounts can be intimidating. As a matter of fact, studies show that 55% of prescription meds are not taken the proper way for a range of reasons, and the repercussions can be serious. Reduce the risk for medication management mistakes and receive the highest benefits of the prescription by following...

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Old Age Bruising Explained: Why It Happens and How to Prevent It

Generally, bruising is more common in older adults. For family members, it can be worrisome to see dark patches on a loved one’s arms or legs. The good news is that bruising in older adults is often normal. However, there...

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Overcoming Diabetic Foot Issues with Help From Home & Hearth Caregivers

For diabetics, every day is jam-packed with a plethora of tasks to be taken care of to make sure the disease stays under control: Tracking blood sugar levels. Eating balanced meals. Managing medications. And it’s just as crucial for those with diabetes to protect themselves against skin-related problems that can happen, especially on the feet, which can be affected by: Damage to the nerves (peripheral neuropathy) Reduced blood circulation Infections Wound healing problems And others Home & Hearth Caregivers provides home care Orland Park, IL families trust, and our experienced in-home caregivers provide the following information on diabetic foot concerns...

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Home and Hearth Caregivers service area map

Serving Suburbs
and Chicagoland

The Best Home Care for Seniors
in the Chicago, IL Area

At Home & Hearth Caregivers, we are proud to offer compassionate, family-like in-home care, respite care, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care services to seniors and families throughout Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, McHenry Counties, including the following cities and towns: