Medications and Older Adults

Stockpiling medications to prepare in case of emergency is a good idea, but getting the extra pills can be tricky. Here is how you can get extra prescriptions or medications for your emergency supply kit.

Splitting pills is a move that can save money, but it could be dangerous. Find out what medications are safe to split and how to do so safely.

Bladder control and incontinence medications have various side effects depending on the person taking them. Some side effects of over-active bladder (OAB) and incontinence drugs are dry mouth, blurry vision, heartburn and constipation.

Wondering who is allowed to dispense medication in an assisted living facility? Laws vary by state. Each state has its own regulations that determine which healthcare works can give medication. In some cases, its a nurse practitioner, but in others it could be a nurses assistant or aide.

It's important to take your Diabetes medications at the same time every day. Consistency is key when treating this disease and maintaining health blood glucose levels.

Proper disposal of unused or left over prescription medications is essential, but it probably cannot be donated in most cases.

Chemical restraints are no longer the norm in nursing homes, but stories of overmedication of the elderly persist. Drugs may be necessary to improve a resident’s quality of life, but close monitoring is the only way to tell if a facility is overdoing it.

When having your elderly parent's prescription refilled, there are many questions you can ask your pharmacist to ensure they are taking their medication properly and avoid dangerous drug interactions.

Many people save old medications "just in case" or because they do not like wasting money. This practice can become dangerous, though, and lead to consumption of the wrong medications or ones that are expired. If your loved one isn't taking their medications correctly, make an appointment with her doctor to discuss your concerns.

My Health Vet is an online web-based service for personal health records and prescriptions refills – some great vet assistance tools for veterans and their caregivers.

Prescription assistance programs (also called patient assistance programs) are valuable resources for those who meet income requirements and who do not have prescription insurance.

One of the easier ways to check use of medication is to check how frequently medications are refilled.

Many families use multiple pharmacies to save money. But when a patient goes to more than one pharmacy, it increases the potential that possible significant interactions may be overlooked and the patient can experience serious problems.

One of the biggest problems we have in our health system today is accurate and timely information; this is especially true regarding the medications we use.

There are so many anti-depressants available, why gamble with one that might reduce the effectiveness of your dementia medication?

Preparing for doctor's visits will help keep a senior healthier while in your care. Ask these questions to better understand treatment decisions and new medications.

In addition to traditional cancer treatments, some people try alternative medicine, or complementary therapies.

"Off-label" prescriptions are certainly legal. But whether or not an off-label use of a medication is appropriate depends on a number of factors which your father's physician has likely considered.

Comparing prices before filling a prescription can save caregivers and their senior parents a substantial amount of money on medication costs.

Learn the differences between delirium and dementia, including how quickly symptoms appear and their effects on attention and memory.