Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by Dr. James Hartfield, M.D. More than 25% of Americans over 65 have diabetes, according to the CDC, and the treatment goals for older adults are deliberately less aggressive than for younger patients. Preventing dangerous low blood sugar episodes matters more than achieving perfect numbers, and simpler medication
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by Dr. James Hartfield, M.D. Nearly 75% of adults over 65 have high blood pressure, according to the CDC, and most take at least one medication for it. The challenge with older adults is that blood pressure medication must control the numbers without causing dizziness, falls, or interactions
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by a board-certified geriatric pharmacist Sleep medications are among the most commonly prescribed and most dangerous drugs for adults over 65. The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria flags nearly every major class of sleep aid as potentially inappropriate for older adults because of fall risk, cognitive impairment, and
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by a board-certified geriatric medicine specialist Chronic pain affects more than half of older adults in the United States, yet it remains undertreated in this population because doctors and families alike are caught between the opioid crisis and the reality that pain ruins quality of life. The good
Medications and Treatment
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Please consult appropriate professionals for guidance specific to your situation. Blood thinners are probably the medication that will change your daily life most. Not because they're complicated to take, but because they
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by Dr. James Hartfield, M.D. Dementia medications like donepezil and memantine cannot cure or stop dementia. They help about a third of patients maintain better cognitive function for a period of months, have no effect on another third, and worsen symptoms in the rest. More than 6 million
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by Dr. Maria Chen, PharmD A current, accurate medication list prevents dangerous drug interactions, speeds up emergency treatment, and gives every doctor your parent sees the information they need to prescribe safely. Adults over 65 take an average of five or more prescription medications, according to the CDC, and
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team When your parent sees four specialists and each one prescribes medications without knowing what the others have ordered, you're watching the silo problem unfold in real time. You are the only person who sees the full picture,
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by Dr. Maria Chen, PharmD Medications stop working for concrete, identifiable reasons: age-related changes in kidney and liver function, disease progression, drug tolerance, weight changes, or new interactions. Recognizing medication failure early and bringing specific observations to the doctor is the fastest path to finding something that works
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team When your parent lives alone and takes multiple daily medications, the gap between what they need and what you can physically supervise is real and frightening. Medication adherence technology fills that gap with reminders, automated dispensers, and remote monitoring
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team When your parent can't swallow pills and the manufacturer only makes tablets, or when the standard dose causes terrible side effects but a slightly different dose would work, you're stuck in a gap the pharmacy
Medications and Treatment
Reviewed by the How To Help Your Elders medical review team When your parent's monthly prescription costs compete with groceries and rent, medication savings strategies stop being optional and start being essential. Generic alternatives, discount programs, and manufacturer assistance can cut prescription costs dramatically, and lower cost does