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Prescription medications can greatly improve your quality of life- but only if they’re taken as directed. Older adults are more likely than other age groups to be taking more than one prescription medication; A survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that 89% of older adults (age 65+) take at least one prescription and just over half (54%) take four or more prescription medications. Since they take so many medications, it creates unique issues when older adults don’t take their medications as prescribed. A 2023 study found that 1 in 5 older adults skipped taking their medication or took less than prescribed due to cost. Why else do older adults struggle to take their medications as prescribed and what can they do to remedy this situation?  

Why Do Older Adults Struggle with Taking Medication? 

• Older adults are more likely to be prescribed more than one medication. The more medications an individual is prescribed, the higher chance that they will not be able to take the medication as prescribed.  
• Transportation– getting to and from doctors’ offices and pharmacies.  
• Trying to manage medications on their own or relying on an overwhelmed caregiver.  
• Negative medication side effects 
• Not understanding their medication 
• Fear of side effects 
• Not being sure what to do if a tablet breaks prior to taking it (some medication needs to be taken whole, otherwise it negatively impacts the effectiveness).  
• Vision issues/low vision making it difficult to view medication or labels 
• Memory issues make remembering to take medication difficult 
• Rising cost of medications 

Low Tech Options 

• Make a list of all your medications and update it regularly.  
  • Be thorough: include prescriptions, over the counter medications you take regularly, any herbal supplements, vitamins, inhalers, medicated creams, injections, etc.  
  • Include not only the names of the medications, but also the dosages, how often you need to take the medication, and what the medication is treating.  
• Buy a daily pill dispenser at your local pharmacy or Target/Meijer for around $10. Make sure to spend time once a week (e.g., on Sundays) to refill the dispenser. Some pill dispensers are designed to be easier to open. 
• Choose a good time to take your medication and set an alarm on your phone. 
• Leave a note somewhere you’re likely to see it (e.g., on the fridge, by your front door, etc.) to remind you to take or refill your medication.  

Higher Tech Options 

• Upload your medication list to Google Docs or on the cloud so you can access it anywhere. 
• See if you need a special pill bottle that beeps or counts down to your next dose or displays how long it’s been since the pill bottle was last open.  
• Electronic medication dispensers keep your medication safely put away until it’s time to take it.  
• Automatic medication dispensers can sort and dispense your medications for you. 
• Phone apps can send you reminders when it’s time to take your medication and some even offer refill reminders. 
  • Make sure any app you use is HIPPA compliant. Medisafe is a free app for Apple and Android and has been around for a long time.  

Working With a Pharmacist 

• Pharmacists can convert your prescription to blister packs, meaning that all your pills are pre-packaged into weekly or daily packets. This makes it easier to keep track of doses and outsource sorting your medications. Click here to read our blog post on blister packs, including participating local pharmacies. 
• Most pharmacies do medication management, where they go over all your prescriptions with you while watching for negative interactions and medications you may no longer need.  
• Talk with your pharmacist to see whether they can give you a pill bottle with an easy-open cap or larger print.  
• Don’t be afraid to talk with your pharmacist about any questions you have about your medications, even if you’ve been taking that medication for a while.  
• Experiencing negative side effects? Your pharmacist may have tips to help lessen side effects, such as taking medication with a meal.  
• Need to cut down medical costs? Ask your pharmacist if there’s a generic version of your prescription.  
• Issues with transportation? See if your medications can be delivered or ask for medication synchronization so you can pick up all your prescriptions in one trip.  
• Click here to read our blog post on everything a pharmacist does. 

Saving Money on Medications & Medical Equipment 

• Lions Hearing Center of Michigan can help with low-cost hearing aids. Call (517) 887-6640 to get started.  
• Visit the National Council on Aging’s Benefits Checkup website to see whether there are benefits programs you can sign up for that could help with prescription costs.  
• Need a CPAP machine? 
  • Michigan Medicine CPAP Bank (734) 232-3964 
• Visit your local medical loan closet for gently used medical equipment such as walkers, shower chairs, and crutches.  
  • • Emmanuel Lutheran Church (734) 482-7121- Must call in advance. 
    • Faith in Action (located at Chelsea office) (734) 475-3305 
    • Paws With A Cause (616)-877-7297 (custom-trained assistance dogs) 
    • United Cerebral Palsy of Michigan’s Michigan Assistive Technology Loan Fund (517) 203-1200  
    • World Medical Relief (313) 866-5333- Small handling fee. Must have a doctor’s prescription and the ability to pick up their medical equipment from Southfield warehouse. 
• Visit our blog post here to learn more about other ways to save money on medications, such as prescription savings cards, price comparison websites, and more! 
• For more information, talk to your doctor or pharmacist and visit the Senior Resource Connect Senior Resource Directory for prescription assistance in your community. 

Getting Rid of Old Prescriptions 

• Disposing of medication that you no longer need simplifies your medication management and is a great way to make sure you don’t take it by accident.  
• View our blog post here on safely disposing of medication.