Elderly Care: Helping You Deal With the Dying Process
Why You Should Talk To Your Pharmacist
Julio Carr
For many people, the pharmacist is the person among the pill bottles that they rarely speak to, even when given the chance. Most often, you go into the pharmacy and pick up your prescription from a tech or cashier and then leave, exchanging minimal information. When you get home, you may not understand all the directions and warnings on the bottle. To prevent confusion, you need to use pharmacists as the knowledgeable and helpful resource that they are.
Drug Interactions
People taking a variety of drugs can face serious interactions if they do not have someone analyze everything that they take, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Your pharmacist will be happy to look at the complete list of substances you take and warn you of any possible dangerous interactions that might take place. In fact, they can alert you if you are being "over-medicated," something that can happen if you have multiple doctors prescribing medication.
Generics
When your doctor prescribes a medication, they may choose the name-brand name drug. In some instances, this drug may offer a particular benefit for you, but often the generic will do just fine. Patients are sometimes hesitant to bring up cost when they are talking to their doctors, but the difference in price between name brands and generics can be staggering. If the cost is a concern, you can ask the pharmacist if a generic will work. They can advise you and consult with your doctor to see if changing to a generic is okay. Pharmacists are very attuned to their customers' financial needs and will work with you to help make your meds affordable.
Availability
Your pharmacist is a simple phone call away if you have questions about dosages or side-effects. Or, you can simply get into your car and head to the pharmacy for a one-on-one chat. Pharmacists are busy, but they consider answering your questions, no matter how many, to be part of their job. As a result, they are friendly and approachable. You never need an appointment to talk to your pharmacist.
If you have never had a chat with your pharmacist, make it a point to do so soon. They consider giving you full service a major part of their job. In fact, many pharmacists at family-owned pharmacies like Camelback Pharmacy are drawn to the profession for just that reason. Yes, they dole out pills all day long, but they have a wealth of knowledge that they would love to share with you.
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As an elderly care worker, I have witnessed the deaths of many individuals. I have seen family members become angry, sad, and completely silent at the end. I have also seen individuals refuse to see family members out of denial. People deal with death in different ways, and the strong emotions are often unfamiliar and scary. If you have a parent or grandparent who is elderly, then I want to share with you what I know about end of life care and dying process. We are a society that does not talk about death, and this can cause great pain when a family member dies. Learn about the process and find out how to deal with your own emotions and how to love your family members at the end. If there is only a small amount of time left, then I want you to cherish the final moments.