Med crushing

[itsme]

Hi! If your LTC is anything like where I work, there are alot of meds that get crushed. My question is- do you put them in applesauce or what? I use that or pudding, occasionally ice cream, but one of the nurses I work with uses jelly! Can you imagine a spoonful of jelly? Hurts my teeth just thinking about it!!!

[Talino]

Sugar-free or not? Strawberry, orange, or grape?

Maybe not really the taste... but definitely the consistency. Jelly maybe too thick to swallow, and more difficult to blend a crushed pill.

But for those w/o swallowing difficulty, jelly would probably conceal the taste of medication better.

"Will you pass the jelly?" Polaner or not?

[jenac]

We put our crushed pills in applesauce, but I have worked at facilities that have used pudding. When I was little-my mom would crush tylenol and put in jelly. You kinda had to mush it between two spoons to blend it. Not to bad, for a kid I guess!

[Sleepyeyes]

I've used ice cream too== the Alzheimer's folks just love a spoonful....

[Youda]

Also, I always use jelly because with aging, taste buds die, so that the elderly can only taste sweet or bitter extremes. With something that they can no longer taste (like applesauce), it won't cover-up the taste of the bitter meds.

[jschut, BSN, RN]

Hmmmm..... Youda, I never knew that.

I took clinicals at a place that used jelly, and I thought it was disgusting. Now that I know, it makes sense. Maybe I'll bring that up to my DON.

Thanks!

[CraftyLPN]

At our facility we use applesauce..but if I can get my hands on some pudding, I will use that..some residents like it better.

[adrienurse, LPN]

I do whatever works. Some will only take it in Jelly, others like applesauce. Some I have to bribe with ice cream. I have resorted to spreading the mixture on toast. Whatever goes over the best.

[aus nurse]

I'm thinking jelly?????? :eek: , I usually use jam!

Until I realised that is what you were talking about. Down here, jelly is jello!!!:) Was trying to imagine crushed meds in that lol.

I use porridge if breakfast time, custard, mashed vegies if available, depending on meal times or jam (jelly) if not at a meal time.

[sanakruz, ADN]

Choc pudding=med compliance

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Spread on toast- yuck, they'll stop eating breakfast.

I've had some luck with putting small pills directly in Jello or pudding and they get swallowed down whole. Much easier for me and the patient.

[jones58]

I find applesauce is easier swallowed by pts. with respiratory problems- pudding gets too thick. But other pts. prefer the taste of pudding.