Residents
Finding the right assisted living community for a loved one is about more than location, amenities, or even care services—it’s about ensuring their health and safety every day. One of the most critical, yet often overlooked, aspects of assisted living is how medications are managed.
Why Does This Matter?
On average, assisted living residents take 12 or more medications each day that require precise administration. And medication administration in assisted living settings is often performed by non-clinical staff, rather than licensed nurses. When medications aren’t managed properly, errors can lead to serious health risks – a top reason older adults end up in the emergency room.
While the community handles most aspects of care, medication management is different – it depends on the community’s contracted long-term care (LTC) pharmacy or the resident’s selected pharmacy.
Who Provides Your Loved One’s Medications?
Assisted living communities work with an LTC pharmacy provider to supply and manage medications for residents. Unlike retail and mail order pharmacies, LTC pharmacies specialize in serving older adults in care settings, offering services designed to reduce medication errors, improve adherence, and ensure seamless care coordination.
When selecting an assisted living community, it’s essential to ask about their pharmacy provider—because not all LTC pharmacies are the same.
Key Questions to Ask About Medication Management in Assisted Living
To ensure your loved one receives the safest and most effective medication support, ask potential assisted living communities:
- Who is your contracted LTC pharmacy provider?
- How does your pharmacy partner help prevent medication errors?
- What safeguards are in place to ensure medications are given correctly and on time?
- What happens if a resident’s medication regimen changes?
- How are medication issues, such as missed doses or urgent needs, handled?
Why Guardian Pharmacy?
We partner with assisted living communities nationwide to provide expert LTC pharmacy services designed to:
- Reduce medication errors with smart packaging technology and safety protocols
- Ensure accurate, on-time medication administration by syncing with the community’s electronic medication administration system
- Support care staff with clinical oversight, education and training, and quality assurance reviews
- Coordinate with doctors and caregivers to ensure medication regimens are safe and appropriate
- Maximize benefit plans, ensuring medications are covered—or an alternative is offered—and that residents are on the best plan to meet their needs
- Provide families with peace of mind knowing their loved one’s medications are handled with precision and care
Our pharmacy teams work closely with assisted living staff to make sure every resident receives the right medication, at the right time, every day—helping to support their health, well-being, and independence.
Have Questions? We’re Here to Help.
Choosing an assisted living community is a big decision, and understanding how medications are managed can make all the difference. If you have questions about LTC pharmacy services or how Guardian can support your loved one’s care, we’re here to help.
Reach out to a Guardian location near you to learn more about how our pharmacies partner with care communities nationwide to provide the highest level of medication safety and support.