What is medication management at home?
Coming home with a new bag of prescriptions can be confusing. Some medicines are new, some doses changed, and some old pills should stop. Medication management means a licensed nurse sits down with you, in your own kitchen, with your actual bottles, and helps you make sense of it all.
This care is part of our skilled nursing service. Your doctor orders it, and every visit follows a written plan of care. Our nurses teach in English or Spanish, so you and your family can ask questions in the language you are most comfortable with.
Why medicines get confusing
Many older adults take several medicines a day, each with its own schedule, dose and rules about food. After a hospital stay, the list often changes. A pill that looks different may be the same drug from a new maker, or it may be a second dose of something you already take. Missing doses, doubling up or keeping an old prescription can lead to dizziness, falls, bleeding or a trip back to the hospital.
What our nurses do
During medication management visits, your nurse may:
- Compare your lists. Check your hospital discharge list against every bottle in your home, including over-the-counter pills, vitamins and supplements, and flag anything that does not match.
- Work with your doctor and pharmacy. Report duplicates, missing prescriptions or possible interactions so they can be fixed.
- Teach you about each medicine. What it is for, when and how to take it, and which side effects to report.
- Help you set up a pill organizer and a simple daily routine that fits your day.
- Watch for side effects, such as dizziness, upset stomach, confusion or changes in blood pressure.
- Check vital signs and symptoms that show whether a medicine is working.
- Teach family caregivers how to help, what to watch for and when to call.
Our article on how skilled nursing keeps seniors safe with their medicines has more tips on pill organizers, medicine lists and questions to ask your doctor.
Medicines that need extra care
Some medicines need a closer eye because small mistakes can cause big problems. Your nurse follows your doctor’s orders and teaches you what to watch for with:
- Blood thinners. Taking them exactly as prescribed, keeping any lab tests your doctor orders, and watching for unusual bruising, blood in urine or dark stools.
- Insulin and other diabetes medicines. Checking blood sugar, using the right technique and knowing the signs of low blood sugar, such as shakiness, sweating or confusion.
- Heart failure medicines. Water pills and other heart medicines, along with daily weights and knowing when weight gain, swelling or shortness of breath means you should call your doctor.
- IV medicines. If you get IV antibiotics or fluids, our home IV therapy nurses make sure they fit safely with the rest of your medicines. We do not insert PICC lines; your hospital or infusion team places them and our nurses care for them at home.
Never stop or change a medicine on your own. If something seems wrong, call your doctor or pharmacist, and let your nurse know. Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, chest pain, signs of a stroke or heavy bleeding.
Who qualifies for nursing help with medicines?
Nursing visits for medicines often help:
- People coming home from the hospital or a rehab facility with medicine changes
- People who take many medicines from more than one doctor
- People with heart failure, COPD, diabetes or high blood pressure
- People with memory changes, poor eyesight or shaky hands that make pills hard to manage
- Families who want to know a loved one is taking medicines safely
For Medicare home health, you generally must meet all of these rules:
- A doctor or allowed practitioner orders your care. A doctor, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant certifies that you need it and reviews your plan of care.
- You need part-time or intermittent skilled care, such as skilled nursing, physical therapy, speech-language therapy or continued occupational therapy.
- You are homebound. Leaving home takes considerable and taxing effort. Short, infrequent trips for medical care, religious services or adult day care are OK.
- You had a face-to-face visit with your doctor or allowed practitioner within 90 days before or 30 days after your care starts.
- Your agency is Medicare-certified. Making Memories Home Health is.
What Medicare and insurance cover
When you meet the rules above, Medicare can cover skilled nursing visits for medication teaching and monitoring. The medicines themselves are not part of the home health benefit. They are usually paid through your drug coverage, such as a Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage drug plan. If cost or access to a medicine is a problem, our medical social worker can help you look for options.
Medicare does not cover 24-hour care, or homemaker and personal care when that is the only care you need. We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. You can see all the insurance plans we accept.
How to start medication management at home in Tampa
Our nurses visit homes in Tampa, Brandon, Bradenton and across Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties. To begin:
- Talk to your doctor. Ask whether nursing visits for your medicines are right for you. If you are in the hospital, ask the discharge planner for a referral to Making Memories Home Health before you go home.
- Call us at (813) 931-0015. You or a family member can call first. We check your coverage and contact your doctor for the order.
- Your doctor sends the order. Doctors and case managers can send a referral online or by fax to (813) 931-0017.
- Your first visit. A registered nurse reviews every medicine in your home with you, along with your health history and discharge papers.
- Your plan of care. Your nurse and your doctor agree on teaching goals and a visit schedule. Your nurse reports any medicine problems to your doctor and follows new orders.
Frequently asked questions
What should I have ready for the nurse's first visit?
Put every medicine you take in one place: prescription bottles, inhalers, insulin, eye drops, creams, vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter pills. Add your hospital discharge papers and any medicine lists from your doctors. Seeing the actual bottles helps the nurse find duplicates and old prescriptions.
Can a home health aide give me my medicines?
A home health aide can remind you that it is time to take your medicine. Reviewing your medicines, teaching you about them and reporting problems to your doctor is nursing work. That is why medication management is part of skilled nursing.
Does Medicare pay for my medicines too?
Not through the home health benefit. Medicare home health can cover the nursing visits when you qualify, but your medicines are usually paid through your drug coverage. Call (813) 931-0015 and we will help you verify your coverage for the visits.
What if I cannot afford one of my medicines?
Tell your nurse. Your nurse can let your doctor know, and your doctor may be able to suggest another option. Our medical social worker can also help you look for community programs.
How do I get started?
Ask your doctor or hospital discharge planner to send a referral to Making Memories Home Health, or call us and we will contact your doctor. Once we have the order, a nurse schedules your first visit.
Where we provide medication management
We visit patients at home in Hillsborough, Polk and Manatee counties, including:
Tampa · Brandon · Riverview · Plant City · Temple Terrace · Lutz · Carrollwood · Town 'n' Country · Lakeland · Winter Haven · Bradenton · Lakewood Ranch
Hillsborough County · Polk County · Manatee County
Insurance we accept
We accept Traditional Medicare, plus long-term care plans and private pay. Medicare Advantage coverage and our participation depend on your specific plan, so we verify both before care starts. Call (813) 931-0015 to verify your coverage. See insurance we accept.
Doctors, hospital discharge planners and case managers can send a home health referral by fax to (813) 931-0017. How to refer a patient.
Other services
Making Memories Home Health provides home health care services.
Skilled Nursing · Wound Care · Home IV Therapy · Catheter Care · Physical Therapy · Occupational Therapy · Speech Therapy · Medical Social Work · Home Health Aide · Medicare Home Health · Home Care & Long-Term Care