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GREATER TRUST
It is common, for example, that antidepressants are refused because the patient does not feel “crazy”, or that a treatment is stopped because “it makes you fat”, according to a friend. “Since the media coverage of health scandals, such as that of the Mediator, I notice a greater distrust of my patients towards the remedies”, note Loriane Saliege.
ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS
“Side effects such as digestive disorders, incontinence, insomnia can also dissuade them from taking them because they impact their quality of life, emphasizes the nurse. The shape of the drugs can also slow down the correct intake: too big, they are unpleasant to swallow, too small, they are difficult to see. ” Sometimes it’s the fear of becoming addicted to a product that motivates the refusal. Painkillers, in particular, get bad press. “Elderly patients fear getting used to it and that the effect will be less effective over time”, analyzes our expert.
TOO MANY PRESCRIPTIONS
Patients often mix things up because their prescriptions are difficult to read, or too numerous: they come from their attending physician and their various specialists. A little lost, they themselves make a selection. To make their task easier, all you have to do is write down the instructions on a printed board, which is easier to read and stuck to the refrigerator door. Or, if you live nearby, fill out a weekly pill box for them so they don’t have to wonder.
A CONCILIATION WITH ITS GENERALIST
Some people sometimes choose to do without non-reimbursed drugs because they are too expensive for their budget. Whatever the reason, the improper intake of treatment is dangerous: it is one of the main factors in hospital admissions. “This can worsen the disease, leading to behavioral disorders, risky behavior, poor nutrition, dehydration,warns the nurse. If in doubt, if you find medication not taken, or if your relative tells you not to follow the doctor’s instructions, you must act without delay. ” Start by discussing it with him: did he understand the usefulness of his treatment? Does he have any difficulty taking it? Then, discuss it together with his general practitioner, who can re-explain the interest of each drug. “This conciliation meeting can be an opportunity to discuss the relationship between the benefits, risks and adverse effects of the treatment, reassures the nurse. Sometimes it is enough to change shape or molecule to make the patient feel better. “
A NURSE’S WEEKLY VISIT
If you live far from your parent’s home, and you want to make sure that he takes his medication properly, it is possible to bring in a nurse who will prepare his pill dispenser once a week at his home. He will be able to answer his questions, check for side effects, take his blood pressure …
Another possibility is to appoint a daily carer, especially if he suffers from memory problems. If the pillbox is prepared upstream, it can come one or more times a day during the intake. Reassuring support for you and your parent.
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