The terms "medication assist" and "medication prompt" refer to different levels of support provided to individuals in managing their medications:
Medication Assist: This involves providing hands-on support to clients who may not be able to take their medication independently. Assistance can include tasks such as opening medication containers, preparing doses, and directly administering the medication to the client. The support worker plays an active role in ensuring the medication is taken correctly, often involving a higher level of intervention and responsibility.
Medication Prompt: This involves providing verbal reminders or cues to clients to take their medication at the appropriate times. It is a less intrusive form of support where the client is primarily responsible for taking the medication, but they may need reminders to remember when and which medications to take. The support worker’s role is to encourage and remind the client, without directly handling or administering the medication.
In summary, medication assist involves more direct, hands-on help with the actual administration of medication, while medication prompt involves reminding and encouraging the client to take their medication independently.