Identifying help for medication management

Sometimes there is a need for support with managing medications. Here are some strategies for identifying people to help with medication management.

1. Self-assessment

Evaluate your needs and preferences related to medication use. First, identify tasks or areas where assistance is required.

Ask yourself:

Are there any areas of medication management that I find difficult?
What do I need help with?
Would I benefit from help organizing my medications or setting reminders for taking them?
Are there medication related tasks that I struggle to complete independently (e.g. picking up prescriptions, getting refills?)
Are there family members, friends or other people in my life who can help with medication related tasks?
What tasks can I delegate to someone else?

Assess any physical limitations that may affect your ability to handle or take your medications. For example, if you have difficulty opening medication containers, you may need some additional support. See Module 5: Organizational and reminder strategies and Module 9: Tools for medication-taking.

Assess any challenges you may have with remembering to take your medications. If you have difficulty remembering to take medications or understanding dosage instructions, you may need someone to remind you or help you set reminders.

Assess your mobility and transportation options. If you have difficulty getting to the pharmacy to refill prescriptions, you may need to ask someone to help you with transportation or have medications delivered.

Assess your network for potential patient advocates. It can sometimes be helpful to have another person accompany you to your health care appointments. When choosing someone to accompany you, try to select someone who is a good communicator, is willing to take notes, and is someone you trust to work in your best interest.

2. Assess your personal network

Think about your personal network such as family members, friends, or other people in your life who may be able to help and assist you. Ask yourself:

Who can I turn to for help?
Do they live close to me?
What is their availability to help me?

Think about if there is someone who lives near you who can respond quickly in case of missed doses, adverse reactions, or other urgent situations.

Determine the availability of family members, friends, or potential caregivers who can provide support. Consider their schedules and ability to assist.

3. Seek professional referrals

Ask your primary healthcare provider for recommendations. They may have connections with reputable caregivers or support workers. You can also ask your pharmacist for help with medication management and resources they may know of.

4. Utilize community resources

Consider reaching out to home healthcare agencies for medication management services. Some community health centers Not-for-profit community owned organizations that provide health promotion, education and illness prevention services. may have connections to organizations that provide medication management services. Community organizations (e.g. senior centers, religious institutions) may also have connections to professionals who can provide medication management strategies.

5. Explore online platforms

There are many online resources that can provide information about tools and supports for managing medications across Canada. These online communities may have insights or tips for identifying how to seek help with medication management.

6. Seek caregiver resources

Some websites offer support resources that can connect individuals with caregivers or support workers to assist with medication management. Also, some provinces and territories have databases of home care services that may include medication management assistance as part of their services. For example:

7. Consider costs

Consider financial aspects of hiring a caregiver for medication management. Come up with a budget and explore potential funding sources, such as insurance coverage or government assistance programs.