Alzheimer Disease and Medication

For people who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer Disease there will be medication that needs to be administered.  This raises the question of whether or not it’s ethical to hide their medication in food if they resist taking it voluntarily.  As a caregiver you’ll have to decide if and when you need to hide medication in food so that your patient gets the medication needed. 

People who have Alzheimer Disease are often given powerful anti-psychotic drugs and sedatives.  It’s important not to over-sedate patients.  Strong doses of medication may make it easier for you to care for your patient but it won’t be in the best interests of the person who has Alzheimer Disease.  Studies show that patients who are cared for in nursing homes are medicated more often than patients who are given care in their homes by a caregiver.  As a caregiver you’ll need to be conscious of the quality of care that you provide and this includes monitoring medication carefully and accurately.

Your patient’s doctor will be in charge of which medications to prescribe at what doses.  It will be up to you to make sure that your patient takes the medication on time each day.  Correct medication is crucial to the management of Alzheimer Disease.  There will be stages of the disease when it becomes more difficult for you to get your patient to take their medication.  At these times you’ll have to find ways to get the medication down without a struggle.

Try presenting medication to your patient with food.  This way you can make the medication part of the meal time ritual.  Some medications will have to be taken on an empty stomach and this can present some difficulties.  You’ll have to practice some patience as you wait for you patient to take the medication.  In extreme cases you’ll have to ask for the doctor’s advice to ensure that the medication is being taken.

As a caregiver of an Alzheimer patient there are many things that you’ll have to know about medication besides what dose it should be given at.  This includes possible side effects and over dose symptoms.  Always make sure that you keep medication safely away from your patient so that there is no chance of an over dose occurring.  Keep a list of the medication that you’re giving the patient along with times that it should be taken.  Mark down each dose that you give the patient so that there is no chance of you duplicating the dose. 

This is important since you are the one who will be responsible for the care of your patient and the administering of all drugs.