Caregivers and the pharmacy

Learn how local pharmacies can provide support to caregivers.

Most caregivers know their local pharmacy like their own back yard. It has prescriptions, vaccines, medical supplies and over-the-counter options. The pharmacists there are also a valuable resource. They can provide guidance and clarity about medication and can be friendly faces to turn to.

It shouldn’t be surprising that a pharmacist is the health care provider that people see most often. Many pharmacies have expanded what they can do for caregivers. Here’s the lowdown.

In this article:

What a local pharmacist can do

Nearly half of the U.S. population live within one mile of a pharmacy. They go not only to get medications and health-related products but also to talk with trained staff.

In addition to filling prescriptions, the staff can also help in other ways:

• Nonprescription items. Pharmacists can also advise about any health-related item in the store, including products like walkers and hearing aids.
• Preventive care. The exact services vary depending on the state. But pharmacists can advise and sometimes advise on treatment options for smoking cessation, COVID-19 and flu.
• Referrals. A pharmacist may be able to help caregivers locate more help with insurance, local caregiver resources and other programs that can lend a hand. For instance, they can help educate caregivers about programs that specialize in primary care for older patients.
• Vaccines. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacies administered more than 300 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. But there are many types of vaccines also available there. At CVS^® stores, caregivers can schedule a combined visit for a caregiver and their charge.

Ask pharmacists about medications

For almost 8 in 10 caregivers, medication assistance is the most frequent task they provide. “It can be hard for the patient to keep track of multiple medications,” says Katie Kristofic, founder of The Carefullist, an online resource for caregivers. She notes that many feel they need to become “a pseudo-pharm tech in their own right.”

Pharmacists can help with questions about medications. They’re a go-to resource to ask when to take them, what to expect and any warning signs to look out for. They can also advise about possible interactions. This is important for many people who need caregiving — more than half of adults over 65 take four or more prescription drugs.

This list is a good starting point for questions to ask a pharmacist:

• Can the medication be taken with others?
• Does this medication interact with food or drinks (including alcohol)?
• How should the medication be administered (e.g., crushed, dissolved, taken with food)?
• How should we store the medication?
• If we miss a dose, what should we do next?
• What are the common side effects?
• What are the serious side effects to watch out for?
• When is the best time of day to take this medication?
• What’s the purpose of this medication?

As with other health care providers, conversations with the pharmacist are confidential.

Ask pharmacists about medication costs

The cost of medicine is a serious topic — especially for caregivers, who can face financial challenges with the work they do. But pharmacists may be able to help in a number of ways.

CVS pharmacists have access to in-store and online tools that can help them identify cost savings. These might be generic versions or alternatives to a prescribed medication. There may be a comparable but lower-cost options. And the tools can also help them identify manufacturer coupons or third-party prescription discount cards that might help lower costs.

The ordering schedule — how many drugs a person can get at one time — may also make a difference. Caregivers can ask the pharmacist, for instance, about switching to a 90 day supply versus a 30 day supply. In addition to causing fewer trips to the store, it can also cost less with many insurance policies.

Caregivers can also ask the pharmacist to communicate with prescribers to explore lower-cost options. Lastly and most importantly, pharmacists can connect caregivers with digital tools, which can give caregivers a heads-up on costs before they pick up and help make the prescription process easier.

Get a pharmacist’s help with medication adherence

Making sure someone takes medication in the right way can be a hurdle, Kristofic notes. For instance, up to 57 percent of people with dementia suffer from dysphagia, which can make it difficult and unsafe to swallow pills.

Caregivers can discuss dosage formats with the pharmacist. Sometimes a version other than a pill is available, and sometimes a pill can be crushed up. Kristofic notes that her father blended one medication into yogurt and applesauce as her mother’s dementia progressed, though not all medications can be taken this way.

Pharmacists may offer other tips to help get someone to take the medications they need in a way that works for them. If the logistics are a problem, they can provide helpful tools — like organizers and timers — to get everyone on the same page about a medication schedule. The pharmacist can also be asked about apps that help manage dosing. They’re especially useful when someone must take multiple pills at different times of the day. Lastly, if waiting for a trip to the pharmacy causes a gap in taking medications, consider delivery. With the CVS Health^® app, choosing a delivery option can be done from a phone.

Take advantage of digital offerings

Most caregivers could use a few extra hours in the day. Many pharmacies have apps or websites that can help accomplish the most routine interactions — and save visits to the store.

The CVS Health app can assist in many ways. A caregiver can create an account for themselves and start the process to link it to their charge’s account. That gives a centralized place to manage prescription needs.

Medication status can be checked without calling the pharmacy. It also has refill requests and certain medications can be set to automatically refill. Costs are also listed in the app and deliveries can be scheduled for eligible prescriptions.

Tips for medication pickup

Those who use CVS Pharmacy^® can download the CVS Health app and link accounts. Linked accounts allow a caregiver to do important tasks: access prescriptions and payment information, view vaccination records and, most importantly, order and pick up refills.

When picking up another person’s prescriptions, be aware that pharmacists have the right to refuse to release the medication. They may ask for basic identifying information, like the person’s full name and date of birth. It’s also not a bad idea to have someone call ahead if possible so the pharmacist knows someone else is picking up.

Another option that Kristofic offers is that caregivers look into health care power of attorney. This is a legal document that empowers the caregiver to see health records and make health decisions, which can make for easier communication with health care providers and pharmacists.

Get help with over-the-counter products

A walk to the pharmacy counter also takes you through aisles and aisles of health-related products — cold medicines, eyeglasses, foot care, headache pills, supplements and walkers. Customers should always review product labels for complete and up-to-date information about individual products, and a pharmacist can help explain any special considerations. Those might relate to dosing or possible interactions with a person’s current medications.

In recent years, some kinds of hearing aids also became available over the counter. Hearing loss is common in older adults, and it can lead to feelings of stress and isolation. The pharmacist can help explain which models might be a fit, what to expect if they are eligible for an over-the-counter hearing aid and how to use it.

If a person has a Medicare Advantage insurance plan, some programs offer a benefit to help cover over-the-counter products.

Support for caregivers from a distance

For some caregivers, getting to the pharmacy in person is a challenge. Luckily, there are options, especially for people with mobility limitations. A local pharmacy can deliver prescriptions. The popularity of drive-thru pharmacies is proof of their usefulness. And teleconsultations are an option too. The ExtraCare Plus^® program at CVS offers a 24/7 pharmacist helpline at $5 a month or $48 annually.

At CVS Pharmacy, the pharmacist may also recommend that a caregiver and their charge sign up and link accounts on the CVS Health app. There’s a notification when a prescription is ready, and a person can arrange payment or view costs and select pickup or delivery.

More pharmacy conveniences

The convenience of a pharmacy extends beyond the pharmacy counter and the aisles of health-related products. For example, MinuteClinic^® is located in select CVS Pharmacy locations. MinuteClinic offers preventive care services and treatment of many minor injuries.

For older patients, MinuteClinic providers have a standard approach to age-related care, which includes a routine assessment of important qualities of a patient’s ability to get around and their mental sharpness. And they can help with kids, too, offering sports and camp physicals.

Most caregivers (61 percent) are employed, while millions also care for children. Even caregivers who are over age 65 deliver care for an average of about five hours a day. This act of love also calls for time management — and a helping hand is important.

Materials provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. This content should not be taken as a substitute for seeking advice of legal counsel or other qualified professional. 

This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.