MEDICATIONS

1. (a) A home shall provide residents with assistance, as needed, with medication prescribed for the resident’s self-administration. This assistance includes helping the resident to remember the schedule for taking the medication, storing the medication in a secure place and offering the resident the medication at the prescribed times.
2. (b) If assistance includes helping the resident to remember the schedule for taking the medication, the resident shall be reminded of the prescribed schedule.
3. (c) The resident’s assessment shall identify if the resident is able to self-administer medications as specified in § 2600.227(e) (relating to development of the support plan). A resident who desires to self-administer medications shall be assessed by a physician, physician’s assistant or certified registered nurse practitioner regarding the ability to self-administer and the need for medication reminders.
4. (d) If the resident does not need assistance with medication, medication may be stored in a resident’s room for self-administration. Medications stored in the resident’s room shall be kept locked in a safe and secure location to protect against contamination, spillage and theft.

5. (e) To be considered capable to self-administer medications, a resident shall:

   1. (1) Be able to recognize and distinguish his medication.
   2. (2) Know how much medication is to be taken.
   3. (3) Know when medication is to be taken.
6. (f) The resident’s record shall include a current list of prescription, CAM and OTC medications for each resident who is self-administering his medication.

Cross References

This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 2600.182 (relating to medication administration).