Organizing Medications for an Elderly Parent

Chances are if your parents are elderly, they are taking one or more prescription medications on a daily basis. In fact the Washington Post cites research that estimates, “25 percent of people ages 65 to 69 take at least five prescription drugs to treat chronic conditions, a figure that jumps to nearly 46 percent for those between 70 and 79.” Polypharmacy refers to the regular use of five or more prescription medications, and puts people more at risk for adverse drug interaction, an area of special concern for the elderly. 

Alarming figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state approximately 350,000 people are hospitalized each year after visits to the emergency room because of adverse, or harmful, drug events. Doctors say while many of these problems are preventable, when you take a number of prescriptions, it can get confusing keeping up with various instructions such as “is it taken with food,” and the adverse side effects. 

Experts say to help a parent get organized, write down the names of all of the drugs they are taking, the dosage, and if they see several doctors, who prescribed them. Include any herbal supplements, multi-vitamins and over-the-counter drugs. The next time they see their primary care doctor, take your list and discuss the reasons for each drug, how long they will be on it, and if any of the drugs are dangerous taken together. Whenever a new drug is prescribed, ask what it is for and how it should be taken, and read through the paperwork. 

Store medications together in a cool, dry location (not the bathroom), discard old, expired medications, and find a pill organizer that makes sense for your parent’s needs. If they are forgetful, they may need a reminder system. However, if a parent is suffering from Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, they should be carefully monitored. 

At MorningStar of Happy Valley, a senior living community southeast of Portland, OR, our residents’ wellbeing and physical health is our primary concern. This is why one of our many services is medication management that ensures residents take medications properly, and as we even order medications, there is no danger of them running out. Please visit our website for a virtual tour of our beautiful community and use our email link to inquire about availability and pricing.

MorningStar of Happy Valley offers the very best in assisted living and memory care with our distinct mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest.” Our foundation is built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve to create a true “home” for residents. Please give us a call or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional senior living community.