How to keep a medication list for an aging parent
Write one list that covers every prescription, over-the-counter medicine, vitamin and supplement your parent takes, with the name, strength, what it is for and when and how much they take. Add allergies, medical conditions and emergency contacts. The FDA says to update it whenever something changes, keep a copy with your parent, and share it with a trusted relative or caregiver. Bring it, and ideally the containers, to every appointment.
What goes on the list
The FDA's consumer guidance says a medication list should hold your parent's emergency contacts, allergies and information about each medicine. For each one, record:
- The name of the medicine, as printed on the label
- The strength
- What it is taken for
- When, how and how much is taken
Caregivers usually add a few fields the FDA does not require but that save phone calls: the prescriber, the pharmacy, and the date it was started or last changed. A sample layout:
| Medicine | Strength and form | Taken for | When and how | Prescriber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vitamin D3 (example entry) | 1,000 IU softgel | Bone health | 1 with breakfast | Self-started, over the counter |
| Prescription (copy from the label) | As printed | As the prescriber explained | As printed on the label | Name and phone |
Copy these details from the container or the pharmacy label rather than from memory. If the label and your parent's habit disagree, write down what your parent actually does and raise the difference with the doctor or pharmacist. Do not change how a medicine is taken on your own.
Include everything, not only prescriptions
The FDA says the list should cover prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements, because some medications should not be used with other drugs, foods or supplements. The AHRQ's brown bag review guidance goes further and names prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements, herbal medicines, topicals, liquids, injections and inhalants. Creams, eye drops, patches, inhalers and pills in a weekly organizer all count.
NIA adds a point that matters for parents who see several doctors: include medicines prescribed by other doctors. One specialist may not know what another one started.
Build it from the containers
The most accurate way to start is a one-time sweep. Gather every bottle, box, tube and pill organizer from the kitchen, bathroom, nightstand, purse and coat pockets, and sit down with your parent. Go through them one at a time and ask when they take it and what it is for. AHRQ describes this as a brown bag medicine review, and it reports that the process can uncover medicine errors and medicines missing from a list. In one example it gives, clinic staff found a patient taking a double dose of a beta blocker only after looking at the bottles.
AHRQ also says every patient should have this kind of review once a year, and some need one several times a year. If your parent has recently changed medicines, do the sweep again.
Keep it current
The FDA advises reviewing and updating the list often, especially when something changes: a new prescription, a different dosage or a stopped medication. Put the date of the last update at the top so anyone reading it knows how fresh it is. A stale list can mislead whoever reads it.
Share it with family
The FDA recommends sharing the list with a trusted relative, friend or caregiver, including anyone who may accompany your parent to appointments or speak for them in an emergency. It also says to keep a copy with your parent, for example a photo on a smartphone or a printed copy kept with the health insurance card. In an emergency the list can help paramedics and hospital staff decide what to do, especially if your parent cannot communicate.
Sharing the list is separate from talking to the doctors. NIA says a provider needs permission before speaking with you. Your parent can tell the doctor verbally that they agree to you being there, and most offices have a consent form, sometimes called a HIPAA release. Getting a parent's medical records or speaking with a provider when your parent is absent requires legal permission, and NIA notes a medical power of attorney may make sense in some cases.
Bring it to appointments
NIA's caregiver guidance says to bring a list with the names, dosage and schedule of all medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies, over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements your parent takes, including those prescribed by other doctors. It also suggests bringing insurance cards, the names and phone numbers of other doctors, and a written list of questions. At the visit, take notes on what the doctor recommends so you can share them with other family members later.
If the visit is a medicine review or your parent has had changes, bring the containers too, as AHRQ recommends. A list is a summary. The bottles show what is actually in the house.
Paper or app
The FDA's view is that the best list is the one that is easy to create, maintain and remember to share. Its options include a simple paper list, an app, a downloadable form, or a template from a health care provider. Paper works for one parent with a short list. An app starts to pay off when several family members need the same up-to-date list.
Elderhub: keeping the list in one place
Elderhub is an iPhone app for the people you look after. Each medication entry holds the name, strength, form, purpose, prescriber, instructions and schedule, so the fields above are already laid out. Allergies, conditions, active medications and emergency contacts also appear on an emergency card you can share as plain text, and it works with no signal. When more than one person helps, dose history records who marked a dose as taken or skipped. Sharing with family is optional, and every feature is free for one person. Elderhub is an organizational tool and not a medical device, and it does not replace advice from your parent's doctor or pharmacist. See the Elderhub app page.
Frequently asked questions
What should a medication list for an elderly parent include?
The FDA says to record the name and strength of each medicine, what it is taken for, and when, how and how much is taken, along with allergies, medical conditions and emergency contacts. Include prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements.
Do supplements and over-the-counter products belong on the list?
Yes. The FDA says a medication list should track prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins and supplements, because some combinations of medications, foods and supplements can cause problems. Tell the doctor or pharmacist about all of them.
How often should I update my parent's medication list?
Update it whenever something changes, such as a new prescription, a different dosage or a stopped medication, as the FDA advises. Put the date of the last update on the list. AHRQ also recommends a full review of all the containers at least once a year.
Who should have a copy of the list?
Your parent should carry one, for example as a photo on a phone or a printed copy kept with the insurance card. The FDA also says to share it with a trusted relative, friend or caregiver who may go to appointments or speak for them in an emergency.
Do I need permission to talk to my parent's doctor?
Yes. NIA says your parent can tell the doctor out loud that it is okay to share information with you, or sign the office's consent form (a HIPAA release). Speaking with a provider when your parent is not there requires legal permission.
Sources
- Create and Keep a Medication List for Your Health, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- Taking Someone to a Doctor's Appointment: Tips for Caregivers, National Institute on Aging
- Conduct Brown Bag Medicine Reviews: Tool 8, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
General information, not medical advice. Do not start, stop or change a medicine because of a list. Ask your parent’s doctor or pharmacist about any question on dosing or interactions.