Assisted Living: Medication Management and Administration
The goal of assisted living is to give residents more control of their lives. Helping residents take medications on their own is one way to do that. If they are able, residents should be trained to take medications on their own.
However, not all residents can manage their medications alone. They may need help from a staff member. When staff help residents take medications, they have to follow rules related to:
- Training.
- Record-keeping.
- Packaging medication.
- Storing medication.
- Disposing of medication.
We offer resources and outline the regulations related to various tasks in different types of assisted living facilities.
Staff must make sure residents can take medications correctly. This includes checking their vision and if they can remember information. Staff should check residents every year and when there are changes in their health.
Resources
Staff can use the following tools to make sure residents can take their medications. Some are free, while others may need to be purchased.
University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Tools to Assess Self-Administration of Medication
Regulations
Helping residents take medications is an important part of staff training. When staff aren't trained correctly, it puts residents at risk.
Sometimes, RNs (registered nurses) have other staff members help residents with medication. The RN should make sure these staff are trained.
Resources
- Employee Registry Wisconsin Community-Based Care and Treatment Training Registry
- Instructor Registry Wisconsin Community-Based Care and Treatment Training Registry
Regulations
Staff should keep track of the following:
- All medications a doctor prescribes
- All medications a resident receives and when
- Any side effects to a medication
- Any training staff have received
- If a pharmacist has reviewed a resident's medications
- How a medication was disposed
- Errors in how a medication was given to a resident
Resources
Physician Orders and Medications, P-01905 (PDF)
Regulations
Staff should let a resident's health care provider know about changes to their health. They also should tell the resident's family or guardian.
Staff should report the following:
- Any change in overall health
- Negative side effects
- Changes in medication dose
Resources
Reporting of Client, Patient, or Resident Death
Regulations
- Adult Day Care Center
- Adult Family Home
- Community-Based Residential Facility
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.12(5)(a)
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(a)
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(e)1
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(e)2
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(e)3
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(f)1
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(f)2
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(k)2
- Wisconsin Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(1)(L)
Who can help residents take medications in a residential care apartment complex?
RNs can help residents take medications. They also are responsible for helping residents manage medications. This includes storing, preparing, and monitoring the effects of medications.
RNs can assign some of these tasks to other members of the staff (Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 89.13(22)). No matter who performs tasks, Wisconsin Nurse Practice Act standards apply.
Can a community-based residential facility hire a nurse who only assigns injections?
Yes. However, the RN likely doesn't meet regulations (Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(2)(e) and Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(2)(b)).
RNs can assign tasks, such as injections, to staff at the facility. If the RN meets certain requirements, insulin can be in a vial or insulin pen. If not, the insulin must be in a unit dose packaging. This can be challenging for community-based residential facilities.
RNs who supervise others must (Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 83.37(2)(b)):
- Manage how and when a resident receives medication.
- Check the resident and their medical status.