What should happen to all medications at the time of a client's death?

At the time of a client's death, all medications should be accounted for to ensure proper handling and compliance with legal and regulatory standards. This process involves performing a count of the medications present to ascertain the exact amount at the time of the individual’s passing. It is an important step in maintaining an accurate inventory, which can prevent potential issues like medication loss or misuse.

Counting medications serves as a safeguard, providing documentation for the inventory records and assisting in any subsequent investigations that may be required, especially if there are custody concerns or if the medications are to be returned for disposal. In many settings, the policies may dictate that medications are then either returned to a pharmacy, disposed of according to local regulations, or handed off in a safe manner to authorized personnel, but the initial step is always to count them.

Other options, such as disposal or transfer to family members, may not be appropriate without prior assessment and following the facility's policies and state regulations. Storing medications until further notice is also not advisable without a thorough count and reporting, as it may lead to confusion or discrepancies in medication management.