? about self administration of meds in Personal Care

[toocrabby4u]

Quick question, if you work in PC do you leave meds in residents rooms for them to take when they are ready or are you required to watch the resident take thier meds? We have some residents that we watch, but others that are completley A & O and leave them on the counters for them to take when they are ready ( say with a meal they are going to eat in their room ). Our new director is telling us that this is illegal but i cannot find it anywhere in the state regulations. I live in PA and work in Personal Care so the DPW is our "regulator". Anyone have any advise on this topic?? Thanks!

[onyx77]

If there is a MD's order that its ok to leave at bedside then you are ok.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

DPW?? Department of Public Works? We do an assessment to determine if a resident is able to self-medicate. If they are able and want to, we get an MD order and document it in the chart. We keep their meds in a locked drawer in their room and document on the MAR that they self medicate.I've been doing this for years and there have been only a few people who wanted to be in charge of their own meds and in all those cases, it was a rescue inhaler they wanted to keep at the bedside.

[DPRN]

I work in a Personal Care Home in PA. DPW (Department of Public Welfare) is our regulating body. Meds are all observed when given to be sure that the meds are actually taken. Observation would prevent a medication error of someone taking someone else's meds at the dining room table. The only meds not observed are the self administered meds. The MAR is to be signed after the meds are administered. If meds are left, they are not truly administered so how can the MAR be signed accurately?