With most live-in care placements, we will find a client who needs medication of some sort. Sometimes they will be able to help themselves in taking all their medication, but it is more likely that we will need to assist with this in some way.
Depending on the physical health and mental capacity of your client you may be required to simply place medication in front of them and prompt them to take their tablets/liquids.
While most of the time a client will take their medication without any issues, occasionally you may find that your client will refuse their medication for no reason that you can see.
For clients who have forgotten to take their medication, this may be a simple case of prompting them to take their tablets. Offering them to your client in a kind and gentle way will get the job done with the least amount of resistance.
In cases where your client adamantly refuses to take medication you would do well to try to find out the reason for the refusal.
In clients who have mental capacity to discuss you may find that they dislike the taste. This is very often the case when taking constipation sachets, which are notoriously bland, tasteless, or just horrible. In some instances (as per the instructions) you may be able to flavor things with a juice such as blackcurrant so that they are better tolerated.
In a steadfast refusal because they don’t want to take anything, you may suggest that rather than argue with you, they call and argue with their doctor.
Fortunately, people in uniform often hold sway over our older clients and even the idea of arguing with the doctor may not appeal to them. They may just reluctantly take the medication rather than dispute with their GP.
If your client has mental capacity, then they are entitled to refuse medication, and should not be forced to take it. However, if this is the case, you need to talk to the doctor as soon as this has happened to see if there is an alternative solution.
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