Managing medications can be complex and overwhelming, especially when you’re taking multiple medications, dealing with changing prescriptions, or finding it difficult to remember or physically handle medications. Our Registered Nurses provide professional medication assistance at home, helping ensure your medications are taken correctly, safely, and effectively.
Medication errors are a leading cause of preventable hospital admissions, particularly among older adults. Professional nursing support can significantly help reduce this risk while supporting your independence and confidence with medications.
The consequences of medication errors can be serious:
Have questions?
Your local team of Client Care Managers are available to answer your questions and work with you to design a customized plan of care that is right for you.
Types of Medication Support We Provide
Daily Medication Assistance:
For people who need help taking daily medications. Our nurse visits at medication time, assists with medication administration, observes you take medications, documents administration, monitors for any concerns.
Insulin Administration:
For people with diabetes who cannot self-inject insulin. Our nurses provide insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring, education about diabetes management, coordination with doctor on insulin adjustments.
Webster Pack Setup:
Organizing medications into daily compartments (Webster pack or dosette box), clear labeling for each time of day, checking for correct medications and doses, coordination with pharmacy, regular reviews as prescriptions change.
Medication Reviews:
Regular comprehensive medication reviews including checking what medications you’re actually taking, comparing to current prescriptions, identifying medications no longer needed, looking for potential interactions or duplications, discussing with your doctor.
Post-Hospital Medication Reconciliation:
After hospital discharge, medications often change. We help by reviewing discharge medication list, comparing to pre-hospital medications, identifying what’s changed (new, discontinued, dose changes), setting up new medication routine, ensuring you understand changes, communicating with your doctor if confusion exists.
Medication Education:
For people wanting to better understand their medications. We provide information about each medication’s purpose, how and when to take it, potential side effects, what to do if dose is missed, storage requirements, interactions to avoid (food, alcohol, other medications).
The “Five Rights” of medication administration:
Our nurses follow these fundamental safety principles:
Additional safety practices:
Our Medication Assistance Services
Medication Administration:
Our Registered Nurses can administer medications that require nursing skills, including injectable medications (insulin, other prescribed injectables), medications requiring clinical assessment before administration, medications via feeding tubes, eye drops or ear drops (if you cannot self-administer), complex medication regimens requiring nursing oversight.
Medication Management Support:
Even if you self-administer medications, our nurses can support you through medication reviews and reconciliation, setting up Webster packs or dosette boxes, education about each medication’s purpose and side effects, reminders and prompts, monitoring medication effectiveness and side effects, coordination with doctors and pharmacists.
Medication Safety Monitoring:
Watching for adverse reactions or side effects, checking for potential drug interactions, monitoring therapeutic effectiveness, identifying medications no longer needed, ensuring safe medication storage, disposing of expired or discontinued medications safely.
Education and Empowerment:
Teaching you about your medications, explaining why each medication is important, discussing potential side effects to watch for, providing strategies for remembering medications, answering questions and addressing concerns.
Coordination with Healthcare Team:
Communicating with your GP about medication concerns, liaising with pharmacists, reporting medication issues or side effects, ensuring medication lists are accurate and current across all providers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Gratifying Care is proud to committed to offer the best possible answers to all your questions. We have compiled a list of few questions that have been repeatedly asked to us.
Can nurses help me with all my medications?
Yes, we can help with any prescribed medications, whether they’re tablets, capsules, liquids, injectables, patches, inhalers, eye/ear drops, or other forms. We work within nursing scope of practice and coordinate with your doctor and pharmacist.
What if I can take my own medications but just need help remembering?
That’s still support we can provide. Even if you don’t need medication administration, our nurses can set up Webster packs, provide medication education, check your routine during visits, coordinate with pharmacy, monitor for any concerns.
Can support workers help with medications?
Support workers can provide medication prompting (reminding you to take medications, opening containers, supervising self-administration) but cannot administer medications. If you need actual administration (someone giving you medication or injections), that requires a Registered Nurse.
What if I forget to take a dose?
Instructions depend on the specific medication. We provide education about what to do if doses are missed for each of your medications. Generally, don’t double up doses – call us or your pharmacist if unsure what to do.
Will the nurse tell my doctor if I’m not taking medications correctly?
Our role is supporting you, not “telling on you.” However, if medication non-adherence is affecting your health or safety, we’ll discuss this with you first, understand reasons for non-adherence, work together on solutions. Only if serious safety concerns exist would we need to contact your doctor, and we’d inform you we were doing so.
Can you help with over-the-counter medications and supplements too?
Yes. Over-the-counter medications and supplements can interact with prescribed medications or affect health conditions. We check with your Doctor and we include these in medication reviews and provide education about them.
What if I’m having trouble affording my medications?
We can’t fund medications ourselves, but we can discuss with your doctor whether lower-cost alternatives exist, help you understand pharmaceutical benefits you might be eligible for, connect you with pharmacist advice about assistance programs.
Do I need a Webster pack?
Not everyone needs a Webster pack. They’re helpful for people taking multiple medications, people with memory concerns, people who find it confusing to manage medications from multiple bottles. We can assess whether a Webster pack would help you and arrange setup if beneficial.
Can you teach my family member to give my injections?
For some situations, yes. We can provide education to family members about giving insulin or other prescribed injections. We assess their capability, provide proper training, ensure they’re comfortable and competent, provide ongoing supervision and support.
How quickly can medication assistance start?
Often within 2-3 days for routine situations. For urgent medication needs (post-hospital, safety concerns), we can often arrange services within 24 hours.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical nursing services are delivered by qualified Registered Nurses working within their scope of practice and in coordination with your doctor and healthcare team. Always consult your GP or specialist about your specific health needs and treatment. Our nursing services complement but do not replace medical care from your doctor.