Older adults take more medications than other age groups. Understanding what medications are for, and when and how to take them helps older adults stay healthy.
Health professionals can explain:
- When and how often to take medication
- If a medication should be taken with food or on an empty stomach
- If any food or drink should be avoided while taking a medication
- How long to take a medication
- What directions like "take as needed" mean
- If a medication has side effects
- What side effects might feel like
- What to do in case of side effects
- What medications might interact with each other
Pharmacies can help older adults with medications, including by:
- Answering medication questions
- Sharing information about generic drugs and programs that reduce medication costs
- Putting medications in easy-to-open containers
- Putting medications in pre-filled pill boxes
- Putting medications that are taken at the same time together in blister or bubble packs
- Putting large-print labels on medications
- Mailing or delivering medications
Medication lists, calendars or cards for each medication can list:
- The name of each medication
- What each medication is for
- When and how to take each medication
- Possible side effects for each medication
Alarms, timers, or text alerts on computers, cell phones or smartphones can remind someone when to take medications.
