Medications and Older Adults

Current treatments for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) cannot repair the damage to the lungs. However, they can slow further damage and improve COPD symptoms.

Nocturnal enuresis (the medical term for bed wetting) can be an embarrassing and messy issue for older adults, but there are several techniques and treatments that can be used to help remedy nighttime incontinence.

Seniors don’t fit the stereotype of a drug addict, but as many as 17 percent of adults age 60 and over abuse prescription medications. Knowing the red flags to look for can prevent a serious accident.

Making a person who is dying more comfortable and alleviating physical pain is an important priority for family caregivers. Physical comfort and pain management should be the focus of providing end of life care.

When an elderly loved one stops eating or only picks at their food during meals, usually our first reaction is to urge them to eat. Instead, consider the underlying reasons for their loss of appetite and how they can be addressed.

Insomnia is a bothersome condition often associated with fragmented sleep and fatigue. But when chronic sleep deprivation is left unchecked, it can take a serious toll on a senior’s physical and mental health.

When someone has a heart attack, their life, as well as the lives of the people who care for them, changes forever.

Age should never be the sole reason for taking away a person’s driving privileges, but a number of physical and mental health conditions, medications, and/or age-related health changes can seriously compromise a senior’s driving abilities.

Although no treatment has been proven to stop or slow the progression of AD, some prescription drugs have been shown to help minimize behavioral symptoms for some patients over a limited period of time.

Elders who take several medications are at an increased risk for prescription drug misuse, but there are ways to help an aging loved one avoid health issues caused by medication side effects, skipped doses and doubled doses.

Taking the correct medication and dosage at the right time becomes increasingly difficult with age. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ suggestions of products and services that can prompt a senior to take their meds and track their doses.

Pharmacists and doctors play an important role in managing a senior’s medications. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ suggestions for working with a senior’s doctor or pharmacist to solve medication-related problems.

When seniors struggle to swallow their pills or refuse to take medicine at all, it’s sometimes necessary to get creative. In geriatric medicine, masking medication may be justified—especially for caregivers dealing with dementia.

Family caregivers must often step in to manage a senior’s medications. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best recommendations of products and strategies for organizing multiple medications and storing them securely.

Seniors may encounter new obstacles to getting their prescription pain medications this year. Medicare Part D plan sponsors can now implement drug management programs to detect at-risk elders and limit access to coverage of frequently abused drugs.

Cannabis is a hot topic among elders who are weary of prescription drugs and seeking alternatives for managing symptoms like pain and anxiety. But medical marijuana isn’t for everyone—there are medical, legal and financial implications to consider.

Medicare Advantage Plans and Part D plans can mitigate the growing costs of prescription drugs, but many seniors cannot afford this additional coverage. The Extra Help program assists low-income individuals in paying for their premiums and medications.

Read experienced caregivers’ best suggestions for using medications to help minimize the anxiety, hallucinations, and aggressive behaviors caused by sundowning.

The AgingCare.com forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best tips for medications that may help minimize dementia behaviors like wandering.

The AgingCare.com forum is filled with people coming together to share valuable information. We’ve compiled experienced caregivers’ best tips and suggestions for successfully managing a loved one’s prescriptions for Parkinson’s.