TEACHING SELF-MEDICATION
CREATING INDEPENDENCE WITHOUT
SACRIFICING SAFETY
Self-Medication: Empowering Persons with Disabilities
IT IS POSSIBLE
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Proverb - “Nothing will be attempted if all
possible objections must first be overcome.”
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Proverb - “Difficult things take a long time,
impossible things a little longer.”
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The Bible - “All things are possible to him that
believeth.”
WHO ARE WE AND WHY ARE WE HERE?
Kathleen Ward, BSW, MPP
 Saundra Brown-Asante, BA, RN, DN/CM
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The Department of Human Resources Project Home Program, a
residential program for mentally ill and disabled adults, is
giving their residents a greater sense of independence and
autonomy while ensuring safety in a program designed to teach
residents to self-medicate.
What are your expectations?
Administer medications
safely and as prescribed by
the health care professional .
Provide support/personal
assistance to meet the
needs of the individual who
needs
assistance
to
medicate in a way that
promotes optimum dignity
and independence.
Let’s talk about
ways to administer
medicines to your
loved-ones or
patients.
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MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION
WHAT IS SELF-MEDICATION?
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Self-medication is having the ability to take
medication at the correct time, using the correct
route, in the correct dose with the support of a
caregiver or a caregiver’s back up who can offer
physical assistance and/or reminders.
Self-medication means that at a minimum the
patient or loved-one identify a pill by size and/or
color, know when they are to take pill and why they
are taking it.
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION
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Independently – without assistance
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Implies that the individual has the physical and
cognitive ability to take medications without
any support or assistance from others.
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION
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With Assistance or Supervision - When an
individual can safely take medication with
physical assistance, reminders or supervision
only.
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Implies that the individual has some minor
physical or cognitive limitation, but only to the
point of requiring some cueing and coaching or
minimal supervision.
ADMINISTERING MEDICATION
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Given by Caregiver –
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Implies the individual does not have the
physical and/or cognitive ability to safely
administer medications even with physical
assistance, reminders or supervision.
SELF-MEDICATION - A GOOD IDEA!
Frees up your time
 Provides an extra layer of safety
 Increases safety when substitute caregivers are
present
 Empowers by increasing independence
 Builds feelings of self-worth
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WHO IS CAPABLE?
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Persons with developmental disabilities
Persons with mental illness
Persons with physical disabilities (visual,
hearing, ambulating)
Persons with chronic illness
Persons who are frail or elderly
Persons with dementia
WHO IS CAPABLE?
 And
children
DEVICES THAT HELP
Pill boxes
 Totes
 Bubble packs
 Unit dose
 Alarms
 Pictures
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MORE DEVICES
Electronic Pill Dispensers
 Braille bottles
 Pre-filled syringes
 Creative use of markers, pictures of
medications,
 Charts
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MEDICATION SAFETY
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Medications must be
kept in a safe manner at
all times.
This protects the
individual and other
household members.
COACHING AND CUEING
COACHING – HANDS ON
CUEING - VERBAL
COACHING
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Sit beside individual and
show how to count the
correct pill(s) for Pill Box.
Help place a small amount of
ointment on individual’s
finger and assist hand to
wound.
Wash individual’s hands
before touching medicin.e
EXAMPLES
CUEING
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Remind individual to fill pill
box.
“Is it time to take you fluid
pill?”
“Lunch is ready. Do you have
your medicine”
WHAT METHOD WILL YOU CHOOSE?
How old is the person?
 Are they capable of taking their medication
independently? With assistance?
 Is eyesight impaired?
 Do they understand why they take each
medication?
 Will others understand the method?
 Is the method flexible?
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METHODS CONT.
Associate the medication with a meal or event
rather than a time of day. You can “re-label”.
 Use a pill organizer. Electronic?
 Organizes medicines on shelf in order of use.
 Written reminders in places the individual will
see it.
 Use personal markers or colors on top of the
bottle.
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METHODS CONT.
Braille wording on bottle top.
 Change pill bottle shapes or sizes for each
medicine.
 Rubber bands on bottle to indicate how many
doses or pills need to be taken each day.
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GET FAMILIAR WITH YOUR RESOURCES
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There is help out there
Get to know your pharmacist
Ask your doctor questions such as:
Why is the individual taking this medication?
What side effects should I look for?
How will I know when it is working?
How will I know when it is not working?
When will I see the effects of this medication?
Does the individual need blood tests while on this medication?
Will this medication interfere with other meds. the individual is taking?
Are there any OTCs he/she can’t take?
Are there any vitamins or herbal supplements that he/she can’t take?
SCENARIOS
REMEMBER
There is no wrong way to develop a
system as long as it meets physician
orders’ and provides the necessary
medications when they are needed.
 Involve your family members or other
staff in the planning process.
 It can take weeks, months or longer for
an individual to learn to self-medicate
and that’s OK!
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS