Medications become an important part of keeping our quality of life at optimum levels as we age. The proper administration and storage of medicine is important to treat existing health issues and to prevent additional health problems from occurring. For seniors in particular, it is important the process and use of medication is strictly monitored and organized. Using too much or too little medication can create significant health risks for the elderly for many reasons.

Using Medication

If you are over 70 years of age, then chances are you take some type of medication. In fact, most people in this age group take several types of medications for various health issues. While these medications offer excellent health benefits, they can also come with unexpected side effects. If an elderly individual gets confused and takes the wrong combination of medication at one time or forgets to take medication they need, then there can be dramatic effects.

Keeping Medications Under Control

• It is important that you or your loved who needs the medication fully understands what they are taking and why. Have a meeting with your physician and discuss each type of medication, know the name of each and know the reason it is needed. Educating yourself is the first best defense against potential problems. If it has a generic name, then be sure you know that as well, medications often go by more than one name.

• Make a calendar that clearly displays which medication should be taken, how much and when. Alternatively, you can buy a box that has the days of the week labeled and stores the medication for each day in individual slots.

• Always inspect the medication you receive from your pharmacist and make sure it looks the same and is labelled properly. It is important to do this before you leave the pharmacy so there is no confusion about what was originally given to you.

• Ask your doctor what should be done if you miss taking a round of medication or if you take too much. Always know what procedures should be followed if you make a mistake. This can be a very important step as too little or too much medication may have life threatening consequences in some cases.

Managing your medication properly does not have to be complicated if you take the necessary steps ahead of time. Educating yourself and your caretakers will ensure any potential medication problems can be avoided.