Article by the Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Fairfax County Health Department
(Posted 2023 January)
Approximately a third of people over age 60 are on more than five prescription medications at any given time, a term referred to as polypharmacy. As we age, it is very likely that doctors prescribe medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, or heart disease. This new year, the Fairfax County Health Department’s Division of Emergency Preparedness and Response urges you to consider medication preparedness. Ensuring that medication preparedness is part of an emergency plan/kit is important for several reasons:
- The effectiveness of prescription medication in treating conditions heavily depends on our adherence and ensuring we continue taking them in times of emergencies.
- Having an extra supply of medication on hand in the event of an emergency helps to prevent missing doses, especially for time sensitive medications.
- Having enough medication prevents people from having to “share,” or use medications from other people. Sharing medication is strongly discouraged, however, when people find themselves in an emergency and are unprepared, this can happen.
A crucial task in medication preparedness is to start building your personal medicine list. Make it your 2023 New Year resolution to create an easy to access list of essential prescription medications for you and your family. Your medication list should include the full name of the medication, dosage, what the medication is taken for, relevant instructions (e.g. taken in morning or evening, with or without food), and the name, phone number, and address of your pharmacy. To get you started, here are some online and offline options to explore:
Mobile Applications
- Medisafe – Free app that keeps track of your medications and has a feature to share the list with caregivers and emergency contacts. Visit medisafeapp.com for more information.
- EveryDose – Free app where you customize medication reminders, alerts, and reports. Check out the virtual assistant called Maxwell, that can answer medication related questions. Visit everydose.ai/technology for more information.
- MyTherapy – Free app that also tells you how to take your medication – oral, injection at a specific site, etc. Visit mytherapyapp.com for more information.
- In 2022, the Health app on Apple added Medications, allowing users to conveniently build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track their medications, vitamins, or supplements. In the US, users can simply point their iPhone camera at a label to add a medication, read about the medications they’re taking, and receive an alert if there are potential critical interactions for their medications. Visit bit.ly/3VYbGDK for more information.
Downloadable Forms
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) offer their My Medicine Record form with very detailed instructions on what information should be included. To view the form, visit bit.ly/3BfI256.
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) have blank versions of Pill Cards. View the full-page Pill Card at bit.ly/3BiKyHJ. View the wallet-sized Pill Card at bit.ly/3FsW59T.
- American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) provide a personal medication list form available online that has separate areas for prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. View the form at bit.ly/3BgObOl.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a personal medicines list. However, there’s less space for medications than some of the previous examples. It might be a better fit for someone who only takes a couple medications. View the list at bit.ly/3VHyDLN.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).