If your elderly family member takes prescription medications regularly now for existing health issues, that’s not likely to change throughout the course of the coronavirus pandemic. She and you may be a little more concerned about how to handle prescriptions and pharmacy visits while there is so much going on. Here’s what you should both keep in mind.
Talk to Her Doctor about Mail Order Prescriptions
Depending on your senior’s insurance requirements, she may need special mail order prescriptions in order to get multiple months of her medications at once. These may need to be processed by her insurance company through their in-house pharmacy or a mail order pharmacy with whom they have a relationship. Sometimes this can take some time to process, especially if this is the first time your senior is getting mail order prescriptions filled. You may need to ensure that she has enough of her current medication to hold her over until the prescriptions arrive in the mail.
Limit In-person Trips to the Pharmacy When Possible
It’s really important to limit trips out in public if it’s at all something that you can do. If your senior has new prescriptions that need to be dropped off at the pharmacy, you or your senior might want to be prepared to wait for the prescriptions to avoid having to go out again. Some pharmacies are offering their own mail order prescription fulfillment services. This might be a good idea to look into if it’s available for your elderly family member’s medications.
Use Curbside Services as Much as Possible
Whenever you can, opt for curbside services. For pharmacies with a drive-thru window, that might mean exclusively using that service for picking up and dropping off prescriptions. Other pharmacies may not have a drive-thru, but are still offering curbside delivery, either for some customers or for all customers who request this option. Talk to your senior’s pharmacist and find out what they can or are able to do for her during the pandemic to make her feel a little safer.
It’s also possible that your senior doesn’t feel comfortable picking up her prescriptions on her own, even with taking as many precautions as she can. Elder care providers can take care of those errands and other necessary trips and errands for your elderly family member, helping her to remain safely at home as much as she can during this unprecedented time.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elder Care in Cranford, NJ or the surrounding areas please contact the caring staff at Perfect Touch Home Care Firm today! (908) 469-2701
