Alzheimer’s patients often are not able to communicate when something is wrong. They may have a negative reaction to taking their pills for several reasons. For example, she may be having an adverse reaction to a drug and is not able to tell you about it.
One of the more popular Alzheimer’s disease drugs – cholinesterase inhibitors – often cause nausea and abdominal pain. Or, your loved one could be having arthritis pain, tooth pain, constipation, a urinary tract infection or dentures that do not fit right. She also could have the flue or a sore throat.
It is even possible that you are trying to give her medicine in a place that is not comfortable for her. If you are giving her pills in the bathroom, she could find the reflections in the mirror upsetting. There also could be a lot of noise from TV or children.
If your loved one is having difficulty taking her medicines, some suggestions from caregivers include:
Give Cues
At first, you may be able to just give the pills to your mother and make sure she takes them. But as the disease gets worse, your loved one may forget what pills are and how to take them.
You can put the pills in your mom’s hand, and if she does not seem to know what to do with them, try giving her verbal cues. You can tell her that it is time to take her medicine. Then, tell her that this is a pill in her hand, she should put it in her mouth, sip water and swallow it.
Remember that you should give her a good deal of praise for doing these things and do not scold if she is not able to do it.
She may need some verbal cues and also some physical cues. You might need to touch her hand that is holding the pill, and then touch her mouth, to show her what to do.
Make It A Normal Event
Some patients can get very stubborn about taking pills, or they may be suspicious of what you are trying to give them. Pill taking can start to be a major battle. But if your mother resists taking her pills, don’t fight her. All you should do is come back in a few minutes and try again. She may not remember the previous event at all, and in any case, her attitude could be different.
Do not announce that it is time for her medicine. Make it into a positive event! Just smile and be playful as you give the pills. Also, just offer one or two pills, not all of them at once.
Try to Make It a Game
Some caregivers have had success by making it into a game. She would give her dad the pills and say, I bet you aren’t able to take all three at one time! Her dad enjoyed proving her wrong, and she would make a big deal of it when her dad was able to take all three pills at once.
There are many Alzheimers supplies and Alzheimers products that can make caring for your loved one easier. For helping her take her medicines, we strongly recommend Pill Crusher Splitter Cups. Another good option to help you handle your loved one’s pill needs is the Pill Crusher Syringe.
Other good Alzheimer’s products include:
Overall, with a bit of knowledge, good care, and love, you can help your loved one to easily manage her drug regimen.