There are many different aspects of Home Care that each require dedicated support. Giving medication is usually one of the most challenging parts as it requires a high degree of attention to detail and accuracy. Many people who receive Home Care take prescribed medications. According to Age UK, one in four people aged over 85 take at least eight different prescribed medications weekly.1
As a result, it’s important that medication is managed correctly by Home Carers. This guide explores how Home Carers can manage medications by following helpful guidelines to ensure they are administered to the person receiving Home Care as prescribed and safely.
If you or a loved one needs support with medication management at home, we can help. Contact your local Alina Homecare Team to learn more about how our quality support can help older adults live at home safely and independently.
If you have medication management skills and want to use them to make a positive difference in someone’s life, apply for one of our Home Carer jobs! Our application process only takes two minutes and we’ll provide excellent, paid ongoing training.
At Alina Homecare, our friendly Care Teams are fully trained and ready to help the people we support with medication management at home. If medication administration is required whilst receiving Home Care, this will be included within the care plan. A care plan is a fully personalised document that outlines the support services needed by the person receiving care to ensure their safety and wellbeing.
We work closely with the people receiving care, their family and medical professionals if needed, to create a fully personalised care plan. All details relating to the medication, such as dosage and when it needs to be given, can be found within it so our Teams know exactly what’s required.
Giving medication is not just about receiving the right dose at the right time. Home Carers also need to pay attention to how the person reacts to it and look for any possible side effects. At Alina Homecare, our Carers understand the importance of this and pay close attention to the client after receiving their medication.
We have also partnered with Birdie, our care monitoring app., which tracks Home Care as it happens. Whenever medication is administered, our Carers record the time it was administered, the dosage and any side effects. With the client’s permission, loved ones can enjoy peace of mind knowing medication has been correctly administered.
The role of Home Carers in medication management
Home Carers play a key role in managing medications. They assist people who find it difficult to take their medications independently. This can be simple, such as providing reminders or getting their medication ready. It can also involve helping them physically take or apply their medication.
How much involvement Home Carers have in helping someone take their medication depends on different factors. This includes their training, the needs of the person they’re supporting and the type of care provider. For instance, some providers offer nursing care at home whereas others focus on more general Home Care.
The scope of medication assistance provided by Home Carers
The level of support a Home Carer can provide with medication depends on their training and how complicated the medication is. Carers can often assist with:
Reminders – verbally reminding and/or using sounds and signals to remind the person receiving care to take their medication at the right time
Preparation – opening bottles, sorting tablets into dosette boxes or getting liquid medications ready
Administration – helping clients take medications by mouth, applying them on the skin or support using an inhaler
Some tasks, like giving injections and using special medications or equipment, can only be administered by Registered Nurses or professional healthcare providers.
Guidelines in the UK
In the UK, adult social care services must follow the rules set by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). These rules are highly important for safe medication practices in Home Care. These include:
Competency – Home Carers need training and the right skills to provide medication assistance safely
Care plans – these should include all details relating to the medication, including when and how much medication to give
Record keeping – accurate records must be kept of all medications. This includes noting dates, times, dosages and any observed side effects
Following these rules can help keep everyone involved safe. At Alina Homecare, all our care services are fully regulated by the CQC to ensure our care is of the highest quality.
Medications & care plans
A comprehensive care plan that contains important details is vital for safely managing medications at home. Typically, they include the names of the medications, the correct doses, the time to take them and how to administer them.
Care plans also include any allergies or sensitivities the person receiving care has. In addition, they also contain relevant contact information of the client’s Doctor in case there are any reactions or complications regarding prescription medications.
Keeping clear records is very important when it comes to medication management. Home Carers must record whenever medication is administered. This includes the date and time, the dose, how the medication was administered and any side effects.
These records can be beneficial in finding out how well the medication works and can help spot any issues to ensure that care remains high quality and consistent.
Medication reminders: how to remember to take medications
Forgetting to take medication can often happen. This is especially the case if multiple medications need to be taken multiple times a day.2 People may also forget to take their medications due to conditions that impact their memory, such as dementia.
Forgetting to take medication or taking it at the wrong time can result in detrimental impacts on someone’s health. It’s reported that 50% of all prescribed medications for long term medical conditions are not taken as intended.3The support of Home Carers and correct medication management can help reduce this figure and support people’s health.
Because of this, medication reminders matter. Luckily, there are different types of ways people can receive medication reminders, depending on what suits them and their lifestyle. These include:
Automated reminders/apps.
Mobile apps. can greatly assist people in managing their medications by providing timely and personalised reminders. These apps. allow users to set customised alerts for each dose and medication, helping to ensure they’re not missed or forgotten. There are mobile phones for the elderly available that are specifically designed for older adults. They’re usually lightweight and have large screens and dialling buttons to make them accessible.
Some apps. even integrate with wearable devices, such as smart watches, for enhanced accessibility. Learn more about wearable monitoring devices by reading our helpful guide.
Apps. often come with helpful features, such as:
Personalised schedules – users can create their own medication plan, so they receive alerts when it’s time to take medications
Visual cues – users can receive reminders with images of what medication they need to take to help avoid errors
Progress tracking – users can make a note of when their medication was taken on the app. so they can see how well they’re following their medication plan and if any doses were missed
Communication with medical professionals – users can easily share records and updates with healthcare professionals
At Alina Homecare, our Home Carers are guided by our care monitoring app., Birdie. When visiting clients, they can check on the app. if any medication is due to be administered during the care visit. They can help clients by getting medication ready or assisting in administering it.
Physical notes
Physical reminders, such as sticky notes or calendars, are simple yet effective ways to help someone remember to take their medication. Placing notes in visible locations like mirrors, refrigerators or bedside tables ensures frequent exposure to the reminder. Marking doses on a calendar creates a visual schedule so the person taking the medication can plan ahead.
These physical reminders are particularly useful for those who may not rely on or feel comfortable using technology. Integrating them into existing daily routines promotes correct and safe medication management.
Dosette boxes
Dosette boxes are a great tool to help people manage their medication. They have several sections usually divided by day and time in which to organise pill dosages. This allows people to make sure they have the right medication ready when it’s needed.
Dosette boxes are particularly useful for people who take several medications at different times. The clear design helps people identify which medications they need throughout the day which helps to ensure no doses are missed.
It’s highly important to use dosette boxes in the right way. They should always be stored in a cool and dry place and should be correctly labelled. To learn more about the benefits of dosette boxes, read our helpful guide.
Training for medication handling in Home Care
Correct medication management is highly important. The right skills and training are essential to care for someone at home who takes medication. There are training programs available which offer useful information for medication management at home.
These programs provide information on how to administer the right medication properly, dosage instructions and side effects to watch out for. They also provide the right skills and knowledge on how to respond in an emergency.
At Alina Homecare, all our Home Care Assistants receive excellent training through our exclusive Training Academy. This training includes medication management. Carers learn how to correctly administer different medications and how to manage them properly. We invest in our Academy to ensure all Home Care Assistants are fully trained with the right skills and knowledge to provide our excellent care.
Here are some of the essential training requirements for Home Carers in medication management:
How to create a clear plan for the medications and when to give them
How to check if the person took their medication
How to administer medications safely
What side effects to look out for and how to report them
Where to seek support or advice if a mistake occurs or if changes are needed
How to feel sure and calm when managing medications
How to ensure medications are being managed correctly
Regular training helps Home Carers learn medication rules, updates and best practices.
Regular check ins from healthcare professionals allow caregivers to ask questions and share concerns.
Frequent meetings with the medical professionals are advisable. This ensures the person receiving medication continues to receive the right dosages to help with their condition, so it continues to meet their needs.
Quick questions
What medications are Home Carers legally allowed to administer?
The medications that a Home Carer can administer depend on several factors. These include their level of training, the needs of the person receiving care and the type of care provider. Most Home Carers can help with simple medications such as tablets, creams and some inhalers. Contact your local Alina Homecare Team today to discuss your needs and see how we can help. For more complex medications like injections or controlled drugs, consult your medical team.
How do Home Care agencies ensure medication safety?
Most Home Care agencies follow policies and guidelines to ensure the Carer and person receiving care are safe when handling medications. They often train their staff in medication management and create detailed care plans to ensure they’re managed correctly. They also keep accurate records of all medications administered and important observations. At Alina Homecare, all our Teams are trained to ensure safety and compliance with CQC regulations.
Can Home Carers assist with over the counter medications?
Most of the time, Home Carers can provide assistance with over the counter medications. However, the help they can offer may vary. This depends on the rules of the care provider and the training their Carers receive. Talk to the Home Care provider about this first. It can also be beneficial to talk to the person’s GP or a relevant healthcare professional.
What happens if there’s an error when managing medication?
If a mistake happens when managing medication, ensuring the person’s safety is critical. The Carer should call their Manager, the person’s GP, healthcare professional or emergency services straight away depending on how serious the error is. They need to explain what has happened. This information can help to keep the person receiving care safe and prevent other issues from happening in the future.
Are there any resources for Home Carers to learn more about medication management?
There are many ways to help Home Carers develop their skills and knowledge regarding medication management. There are various online tools and training programs available. Helpful tools can also be found on the NHS and CQC websites.
What is considered medication management?
Medication management helps people use their medication correctly. This is to ensure the medication helps their condition effectively. Here are some simple steps to follow:
Create a detailed care plan that includes relevant information relating to the medications
Correctly administer the medication, following the instructions laid out in the care plan
Make a note of medication taken at what time and be vigilant for any adverse effects
Ensure records are correctly managed and filed accurately
How can technology aid in effective medication management?
Technology provides helpful tools to assist in correct and safe medication management. For example, apps. can remind users to take certain medications at different times to ensure they’re taken correctly. Users can create personal schedules and see useful visuals. They can check their progress to help them stay focused on their treatment.
What strategies can be implemented to improve medication adherence?
Helping people take their medication correctly can be done in several ways, including:
Creating a clear plan to help the person taking the medication to stick to a schedule
Creating reminders to help ensure doses don’t get missed
Staying connected with a care provider or healthcare professional so any questions or concerns can be addressed easily
