Failure to Take Medications as Prescribed is Costly
In 1996, it is estimated that patients who fail to take medications as prescribed cost the US over $25,000,000,000. And that was 15 years ago! The problems facing many older adults related to medication compliance include 1) lack of transportation for picking up prescriptions and 2) lack of medication regime for managing numerous prescriptions with varying frequencies. An in-home caregiver can be one solution for these patients. In-home caregivers can assist with providing not only transportation, but also mobility assistance in and out of the home. An in-home caregiver cannot set-up a medication pill box (a family member or Licensed Nurse is responsible for that, per California law). But, the caregiver can provide medication reminders and document when the medication are taken. This is valuable information for family members living outside of the home and for the physicians to ensure medication compliance. In-home caregivers are an inexpensive solution for preventing healthcare decline at home and preserving quality of life.
