Tip #78, Picture Perfect; Spicy Medication Trays (Part 1)

     What do spice racks and medications (meds) have to do with each other? Nothing really. But, you can make a medication tray using a magnetic spice rack. Why would you want to do that? Well, if the one recovering requires any assistance at all to manage medications under certain circumstances
then the options are limited. A spice tray med tray like this may be right for you if any of the following factors apply:

• You have liquid medications (as do most people who use feeding tubes for example, or for those who struggle with swallowing, and/or recovering from strokes, etc.).
• Some of your medications/nutrition supplements need to be mixed with water just before they are taken (protein for example, or pills that don't come in liquid form and so need to be crushed and then mixed with water)  
• You are on bed rest, or are bed-bound
• You require assistance with meds for any other reason and your caregiver can't be there full time, they might want to draw up/organize the meds for the day or weekend (this would allow them to prep meds once instead of appearing multiple times, everything out and putting everything back several times a day, or allow you to only have someone come once a day...)
• You can't stand or sit for long periods of time (but can be up/sitting long enough to administer the meds as long as you don't have to prepare them as well).

Note though that if it is only pills that you need to contend with then you may or may not want to use the spice tray option. In that case most pharmacies have several options of medication organizers available for single doses per day, multiple doses per day, per hour, or per week. Some pharmacists will also prepare blister packs for you if necessary (A blister pack is very similar to how most of today's chewing gum comes - but for meds you will find the correct combination of meds where each piece of gum would be found).

    Okay, back to the tray. I know some of you right now want to say "Val, even if all of those factors apply, why would I (recovering) want to give someone else one more thing to do (making the tray)" or, "why would I (caregiver(s)) spend an hour putting it all together - it seems like a lot of work to do it all at once?" Good questions.  My personal answers:

1. For the one recovering: Independence, sense of accomplishment, and feeling like less of a burden to others, and let's not forget morale. It gets harder and harder to believe that you are or will get better, or that you were ever capable of doing anything for yourself. Then, meds are set up for you and you accomplish this big job (taking your own meds) and you feel better about yourself. And yes, while it feels like asking a caregiver to do one more thing to put the trays all together, you are going to feel better when that tray is sitting beside you and you don't have to wake up your caregiver who fell asleep watching TV, or get them up when they are pooped and you really really don't want to have to ask them to get up at all. I think it's better for them too, not just for you.
2. For the caregiver: Relief/Respite and Efficiency: As a caregiver you may not be able to be with the one you're caring for each medication time. Or, you may be, but don't want to be taking 30 minutes 7 times a day doing meds. Fair enough. Doing the prep work is so efficient; everything is out and it doesn't take much more time to draw up 2 syringes of Tylenol than it does one since it is all out. Finding the Tylenol labels once instead of 6 times in a day is faster too, etc. If you do prep for a day or a few days, or even for just one medication time of the day it may give you a much needed break. It can also give you peace of mind to know that your loved one has access to the meds they need, when they need them, and in a form that they are capable of taking under any circumstances. Alternately, if your loved one has a nurse or other qualified caregiver, you can request that they make up the trays for you and save yourself even more time and work and use your time to do some self-care or spend time with your loved one doing something fun instead.

     Okay we're almost there. We know why we would want to use the spice rack, when to use it, and now the burning question: why are we using a magnetic spice rack? I looked for something that would do the job online, in medical supply stores, and under every rock. Luckily I have a brilliant sister-in-law B who suggested the spice rack upon hearing her hubby and I having a discussion about what he could weld together (amazingly supportive aren't they? We're so blessed!). Just a few notes now... Well, some
Very Important Notes***

• Remember to, in all cases, consult with your physician and/or pharmacist before taking or pre-pouring/packaging/preparing medications in any way.
• You cannot safely (according to the pharmacist) store medications in metal containers (something about possible leaching into the medications)! We use 16 ounce paper cups to solve this issue.
• One must always label every medication that is drawn up ahead of time (4"x1" white return address labels work really well for this job), and 
• clearly separate each set of medications from other sets/doses of the same meds meant for later in the day. 
• Some medical professionals will not condone this at all, and others will support this method of med preparation. Do not use this at home if any of your medical team members have an issue with this method of preparing medications.

If you think you might like to try the spice-rack med tray, See Tip #79, Picture Perfect; Spicy Medication Trays Part 2.

Happy Spicing, Medication Prepping, Independence-ing!