What You Should Know About Medication Policy and Procedure in Assisted Living

Aging is a normal part of life, but it’s natural to worry about what might happen to your body and your mind as you get older. Over time, our cells become damaged, making it more difficult for our organs to carry out their normal functions. This is why older people tend to have hearing loss, vision problems, poor balance and other medical concerns. 

Some of these cellular changes take place in the brain, disrupting communication between your brain cells and other parts of your nervous system. As a result, some older people also experience cognitive decline, which leads to confusion, memory loss and other concerning symptoms.

If you have some of these problems, you can still lead a full, happy life, but you may need a little more help than usual. That’s why you should consider moving to assisted living. An assisted living community has staff available to provide personal assistance and make sure you have access to a wide range of activities. Moving to assisted living also helps prevent the loneliness and isolation associated with living alone.

This guide introduces the medication-related policies and procedures followed by assisted living staff. You’ll learn more about what assisted living is, why it’s so important to have medication policies in place and discover how assisted living can help you improve your quality of life.

Assisted living communities are designed for seniors who need minimal daily care. For example, you may need a little help getting dressed or walking around the grounds. 

Assisted living communities are not meant to provide residents with high-level medical care. So, generally, assisted living policies prohibit staff members from administering medications. It’s okay if they remind you to take your medications or help you keep track of your supplies, but they can’t do anything that qualifies as medication administration.

Assisted living communities typically offer medication management services, but not medication administration. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services defines medication administration as the direct application of a medication to another person. This includes giving injections, applying ointments and creams to the skin, administering oral medications or instructing a resident to use an inhaler.

Assisted living is just one of several senior living options. The rules for medication management and medication administration vary based on which option you choose. For example, independent living communities and 55+ communities are for seniors who still have a high level of independence. Therefore, these communities don’t usually provide medication management services.

Memory care is for older adults with dementia and other types of cognitive decline. Some assisted living communities have dedicated memory care units, but it’s also possible to find a standalone memory care facility. Nursing homes provide the highest level of care, so they have medical professionals available 24 hours per day to tend to your health care needs. Both types of communities offer both medication administration and medication management, as residents may not be well enough to manage their own medications.

In the United States, nearly 84% of older adults take at least one daily medication. Many seniors take multiple medications, increasing the risk of adverse events and serious drug interactions. For seniors who regularly take medications, it’s important to ask plenty of questions before making the move to assisted living.

Before you make any decisions, ask these questions to ensure that staff members are capable of meeting your needs:

• What processes and procedures are in place to ensure safety?
• Does the facility have trained health care workers to administer medication, or do you provide medication management only?
• What procedures do you have in place to make sure residents take the right medications at the right times?
• What security protocols do you have in place to ensure residents’ medications are stored safely?
• How often do staff members undergo training related to medication management?
• Are there any medications you don’t allow on the premises?

Assisted living communities must follow state laws for managing medications. These laws dictate what staff members are allowed to do and what type of licensing or training they need before they can do it. Every state also requires assisted living facilities to follow strict guidelines for medication storage and administration.

If you have any questions, check with your state’s health department or other department that oversees assisted lving communities. Below, you can find the assisted living governing departments and regulatory information for each state.

If you’re interested in assisted living for yourself or a family member, you can use the search bar below to find communities in your area.