SAFETY
SAFETY
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Managing Medications • Read the labels before taking any medications. • Ask your nurse if you have any questions regard- ing how or why to use the medication. • Take medication exactly as ordered by your med- ical provider. • Do not stop taking any medication abruptly, even if you feel it does not help. • Talk with your nurse or medical provider before stopping any medication. • Store medications in a child-safe location accord- ing to safety and temperature guidelines recom- mended on the containers. • Refills will often be every two weeks. We do this to avoid waste since medications can change of- ten. • Dispose of out-of-date or no longer used medi- cines safely. See below for information on how to dispose this medication properly. Your Care Team can always assist, also. Tips for Taking Medications • The patient should sit up as straight as possible and wet their mouth with a small drink of water before taking medication. • A little jam, applesauce, pudding or ice cream on a spoon with the medications can make swallowing much easier (and tastier!). • Some, but not all, medications can be crushed and given in food to make them easier to swal- low. Always consult your nurse or pharmacist first before crushing any medications. • Give medicines for nausea (upset stomach) about 30 minutes before other medicines.
Prescription Medication You can help to prevent drug misuse, abuse and accidental poisonings by following these DOs and DON’Ts: DOs: • DO keep medications in the original container and out of sight and reach of children and pets. • DO store your medications in a secure area. Con- sider a cabinet or drawer that you can lock. • DO check the date on everything in your medi- cine cabinet and dispose of anything that has passed the expiration date. • DO check to see which medications need to be refrigerated. Make sure they are stored where they will not freeze and where children cannot easily reach them. DON’Ts: • DON’T take medications in front of children, since they tend to mimic adults. • DON’T give your medications to others or take someone else’s medications. • DON’T put different medications into one bottle. • DON’T store medications in places that are hot and humid. • DON’T take a medication that looks different (i.e. color, shape, size, etc.) than you are accustomed to without first checking with your pharmacist. Proper disposal of medications will keep you, your family, your pets and the environment safe! It will also keep medications from being diverted and used illegally.
fresh bleach solution over the items. Seal the bag securely and place outside in the trash. LAUNDRY AND EQUIPMENT • Always wear gloves when handling soiled linens. • Clean personal care items, such as a bedside commode, immediately after use. Clean with the bleach so- lution made daily – 10 ounces of water with 1 ounce of bleach. Please note that bleach solution loses its disinfectant ability after 24 hours. • Dilute household disinfectants (such as Lysol) to wipe off equipment if you cannot use the bleach solution. • Wash small items in hot soapy water and dry with clean paper towels. • Wipe glass or plastic thermometers with rubbing alcohol before and after each use unless you have a dis- posable sleeve as a cover for each use. • Discard body fluids, such as urine or vomit, in the toilet. Wear gloves, and clean the container with the 1:10 bleach solution, rinse and dry. • Wash patient’s soiled laundry separately from other household laundry. Bleach or a disinfectant (such as Lysol) may be added to the laundry. MEDICATION Medication is often an important part of managing distressing symptoms and improving quality of life. Be sure to tell your Care Team about all medications or drugs that you are using, including all prescribed by a medical provider, all “over-the-counter“ medicines that you can buy without a prescription, vita- mins, supplements, herbal or homeopathic remedies, tobacco, alcohol, CBD, and/or ‘street’ drugs. It is very important to share this information with your Care Team so that they can keep the patient as safe
and comfortable as possible. Medication Plan • Your nurse will write down the patient’s medica- tions, what they are for, and when and how to give them. • Members of your team will review this plan regu- larly and update it as necessary. • Consider keeping the patient’s medication plan inside this manual. • At each visit, your nurse will go over the patient’s medications. You can talk about how well the medications work and any problems the patient has in taking the medications. • The nurse will want to check medication bottles to ensure the patient has the medications they
need and confirm the list is correct.
Preferred Drug List Four Seasons uses a preferred drug list. This list is routinely reviewed and approved by our medi- cal director and a pharmacist and is current with clinical evidence about the effective and safe use of medications. If a patient is on a medication that is not on Four Seasons’ preferred drug list, your nurse and care provider will discuss changing the medication to one that is on the list. Keeping the patient comfortable and safe is our first priority.
866.466.9734
FourSeasonsCare.org
FourSeasonsCare.org
866.466.9734
Four Seasons
Four Seasons
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