Overall rule: A DCW and HHA may NEVER give a patient medication, ONLY REMIND and ASSIST Medication Dispensing:
- Employees are only authorized to dispense medication from pill containers that have been pre-filled by a family member or licensed healthcare professional.
- Non-prescription medication should never be directly administered to a client by the employee.
- CareSphere employees are not authorized to handle or dispense medication that hasn't been pre-filled by a family member or licensed healthcare professional.
Assisting with Medication:
- Employees may assist clients in taking their medication. Assistance is defined as:
- Bringing the prescription container.
- Opening the container for the client.
- Allowing the client to take the medication out of the container and ingest it without direct physical assistance.
- At no point should employees put medication directly into the client's mouth.
These rules prioritize safety, professionalism, and compliance with regulations when it comes to handling and assisting clients with their medication in a home care setting.