Find a Massage
Therapist
& more...

Find a therapist near you

City or Zip Code:

Powered by: Psychology Today

Advertisement

Healthy Aging Aging and Healthcare

Medication Use in Older Individuals

Introduction
Become An Educated Consumer
Is Medication Always Necessary?
Learn As Much As You Can About Your Medications
Tell Your Doctor About Side Effects
Why Are Medications Potentially More Dangerous For Older People?
Do Older People Take Too Many Medications?
No One Is Too Old To Be Treated
Proper Medication Usage Is Very Serious Business
Summary
 
 

Introduction

In today’s world of people living longer with a number of chronic illnesses, medications, both prescription and non-prescription, are an increasingly large part of medical care. More and more individuals, especially older individuals, take pills on a daily basis for conditions such as hypertension (high blood pressure), diabetes, heart diseases such as congestive heart failure and angina, respiratory diseases, and arthritis (the most common chronic disease), just to mention a few.

The correct medication, in the correct dosage, for the proper indication, can improve quality of life, limit disease symptoms and progression, and reduce or significantly postpone death. Conversely, the wrong medication and/or the incorrect dosage of a drug can lead to serious problems, including death.
 

Become An Educated Consumer

What should you, as a consumer of medications, do or know in this world of so many new and expensive medications? The guiding principal, I believe, is to be an educated consumer. Know as much as you can about any chronic (long-term) illnesses you have. Know the symptoms, the treatments (medication and especially non-medication), and the prognosis (expected outcome over time).

You can obtain this education through reading (books, magazines, and websites), attending talks or seminars, joining support or self-help groups (available in most cities for: Parkinson’s Disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, Alzheimer’s Disease, heart disease and many other types of diseases), and speaking with your physician.
 

Page 1 of 5 Next Page >>