11 ways to get someone with dementia to take medication

1. Create a calm and quiet environment.
2. Be alert to side effects or illness that make them feel sick or uncomfortable.
3. Eliminate medications or supplements that aren’t absolutely necessary.
4. Make pills easier to take.
5. Use short sentences and don’t explain or reason.

What do you do when elderly won’t take medicine?

5 steps to help your loved one take the medication he needs when he needs it

1. Consider an evaluation.
2. Create an up-to-date medication list.
3. Find out which medications are necessary.
4. Centralize pharmacy records.
5. Talk with your loved one.

How do you convince an older person to take medicine?

6 ways to convince seniors to take medication

1. Focus on critical medications. In caregiving, it’s important to pick your battles.
2. Have the doctor explain the importance.
3. Check for unpleasant side effects.
4. Change the flavor or formula.
5. Address emotions instead of words.
6. Keep a positive attitude.

What should you do if a person refuses to take their medication?

If a client is refusing and saying they don’t want to take their medication, you should:

1. Try to find out the reason why e.g. unpleasant side effects?
2. Explain calmly the consequences of not taking their prescribed medication.
3. If no reason given, wait a while and ask again.

What do you do when a dementia patient refuses medication?

Try breaking the process down into steps, and reassuringly and calmly, explain what you are doing. Give them time. Any part of the process they can participate in should be encouraged. Perhaps you will need to pour the water into the glass, but they can pick the pill up from the table and put it in their own mouth.

How can you encourage someone to take medicine?

There are several ways to increase motivation to take medication as prescribed.

1. Think about why you are taking the medication in the first place.
2. Track progress in a journal.
3. Take your medication at a similar time each day.
4. Use a medication planner/pill box.
5. Enlist family and friends to help with these strategies.

Why do elderly stop taking medication?

Memory: Senior simply forget to take their medications. Need: 40% of elderly patients do not know the purpose of their medication. Some do not take them because they don’t feel good, others stop taking because they feel good. Volume: too many medications.

Can you legally force someone to take medication?

In most cases, you cannot be forced to take medication. If you are offered medication, you usually have the right to refuse it and ask for an alternative treatment.

Can a nurse force a patient to take medication?

Because a client legally has the right to refuse medication, the nurse can only recommend, advise, suggest, or urge the patient to comply. Consequently, it is important to understand the nurse’s response to patient refusal of medication. 2.

Can dementia patients refuse medication?

Expert explanation: REFUSAL TO TAKE MEDICATIONS is a common manifestation of dementia. Since taking medications is often a daily occurrence, refusal can cause caregiver frustration. The recommended approach is to stay calm.

How do you get someone with dementia to cooperate?

Tips for Gaining Cooperation

1. Be patient and distract your loved one instead of forcing him to do something.
2. Be willing to compromise.
3. Break the process of taking medication into steps.
4. Create a calm, quiet environment when trying to get your parent to take medication.