At senior care facilities in Nassau County, qualified staff members provide oversight for distributing medication for residents from a central storage area. Not everyone uses this service, but elderly men and women sometimes have difficulty keeping track of multiple medicines they take. In addition, some choose to take supplements, and the staff members can provide those products at the appropriate time as well.
An Example
Consider an example of a resident taking the prescription medication Diovan HCT. Doctors prescribe this medicine to treat high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and to improve the chances of surviving a heart attack. Diovan HCT contains two medications: valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide.
Valsartan is classified as an angiotensin II antagonist. It blocks the constricting effects of the hormone angiotensin II on blood vessels. Valsartan improves cardiovascular problems on its own, but some patients benefit from the addition of a diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide. This medication increases the excretion of sodium and chloride through urine.
Now, this resident wants to start taking the over-the-counter supplement D-ribose, a carbohydrate that has an important role in energy production. Research shows that this product can boost energy in patients with congestive heart failure.
Expert Insight
A study published in the European Journal of Heart Failure found that taking D-ribose supplements for three weeks enhanced blood flow in patients with congestive heart failure. These participants also experienced a significant improvement in their quality of life. Participants taking a placebo did not experience significant effects.
The resident at one of the senior care facilities in Nassau County has learned about this by doing his or her own research with the community’s Internet service. By checking the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, this individual has confirmed that D-ribose does not have any negative interactions with Diovan HCT.
The Medicine Storage Area
This resident’s medication and supplements can be kept in the community’s medicine storage area and provided as advised. By having a staff member provide this person’s medication and supplements as directed, the resident will never be at risk of taking too much or too little or taking them at the wrong time. Click here to learn more about one particular assisted living community.
