---
title: "What Is Medication administration? Home Care Glossary"
description: "Medication administration means giving a person their medicine, such as handing over the dose, measuring liquids, or giving an injection. Who may do it..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medication-administration/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Daily living and health

# Medication administration

Medication administration means giving a person their medicine, such as handing over the dose, measuring liquids, or giving an injection. Who may do it depends on state law and training. Non-medical home caregivers usually do not give medicine. They may remind a person to take it.

## Why it matters for your family

Giving medicine carries real risk of errors. Wrong doses, missed doses, and interactions can hurt. Rules about who may give medicine differ by state and setting, so ask a doctor, nurse, or the state health department. A family member may give medicine to a loved one. A hired non-medical caregiver generally should not. If a person cannot manage medicine alone, ask a nurse about options. A common mistake is asking a companion caregiver to give pills as a favor. HomeCare.com does not offer medication administration. Caregivers give medication reminders only.

Source: [nia.nih.gov](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/medicines-and-medication-management/taking-medicines-safely-you-age)

[Read more: Companion care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/companion-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Medication reminder**A medication reminder is a prompt that tells a person it is time to take a medicine they already have.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medication-reminder/)
-   [**Medication management**Medication management is the full set of steps for using medicines safely.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medication-management/)
-   [**Skilled nursing care**Skilled nursing care is nursing and therapy that only licensed professionals, or staff supervised by them, can safely provide.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/skilled-nursing-care/)
-   [**Registered nurse (RN)**A registered nurse (RN) is a licensed nurse who assesses patients, gives medicines and treatments, helps make care plans, and teaches patients and families how to manage illness at home.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/registered-nurse/)
-   [**Licensed practical nurse (LPN)**A licensed practical nurse (LPN), called a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) in some states, gives basic medical care, such as monitoring vital signs, changing bandages, and helping with bathing and dressing.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/licensed-practical-nurse/)
-   [**Home health care**Home health care is medical care given at home for an illness or injury, such as skilled nursing and therapy.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-health-care/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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