As individuals age many things may change, including reversing the roles of who is caregiving. One thing that doesn’t change is Moose Pharmacy helping you care for your loved ones.

Your local Moose Pharmacy pharmacist can look over all your medications through a comprehensive medication review including looking for these potentially inappropriate medications.

Did you know that as you age and become a senior some medications may not be recommended anymore? Every year The American Geriatric Society publishes the “Beers Criteria” that includes medications that may be potentially inappropriate in elderly individuals and why. For example, diphenhydramine or Benadryl is potentially inappropriate in elderly patients because it increases the risk of falls.

Your local Moose Pharmacy pharmacist can look over all your medications through a comprehensive medication review including looking for these potentially inappropriate medications. The pharmacist will then create a specialized plan to resolve medication therapy problems with your doctors. Your Moose pharmacist will make sure that all medications including over-the-counter medications are safe, effective, and needed.

If your senior uses a pillbox to remember their medications, there is an easier way that can be managed by Moose Pharmacy. “MoosePacks” are a box containing individual packets of medications specific to the date and time that each dose is taken and will last 30 days. Each MoosePack is specifically prepared for you or your loved one by a Moose Pharmacy pharmacist and pharmacy technician.

Each month, Moose Pharmacy will contact the individual or the caregiver to see if any medications have changed. This mean you or your loved one will have a monthly “check-in” from the pharmacy. It is that simple!

Do you feel like you or your senior are always going to the pharmacy to pick up medications? Moose Pharmacy can help synchronize your medications to be filled on the same day each month even if you do not participate in MoosePacks. Medications can also be delivered for free right to your home or work for no additional cost.

As your loved one ages it’s important to think about these questions when evaluating their medications:

• Do you know what each medication is used for? It is important that each medication serves a specific purpose and that the individual is aware of this purpose. If you are unsure of why you are taking a medication it’s important to reach out to your Moose pharmacist.
• Are you aware of common side effects of your medications? You may be experiencing a side effect of a medication and not know it is caused by a medication. For example, many medications cause dry mouth and instead of adding another medication to help with dry mouth your pharmacist could talk to your doctor about changing this medication to another medication that wouldn’t cause dry mouth.
• Is this dose safe? Some medications need their dose lowered when a patient becomes a senior to be safer. Your pharmacist will be able to review all your medications and discuss any concerns with your doctor.
• How do you remember to take your medications? It is important to have a method to remember to take your medications so you don’t miss any doses or accidently take too much. MoosePacks are a simple way to help with this.

As you or your loved one become a senior it’s important to recognize that some things may change including medications. Your loved one has always cared for you and now it’s your turn to take care of them with the help of Moose Pharmacy.