Older people are likely to take many different types of medicine at the same time. These medicines can react with each other and give rise to effects which may not be good for them.

DO:

• Follow instructions exactly. There are good reasons why some medicine must be taken a certain number of times a day, before or after meals. In the case of antibiotics, it is important to finish the course unless there are side effects e.g. rash, itching, vomiting, diarrhoea.
• Swallow your medicine with sufficient water to make sure they reach the stomach.
• See the doctor if there are side effects. He can either change your dose or give
  another type of medicine.
• Keep a daily record of medicine-taking in a book. This helps to prevent missing a
  dose or taking two doses by mistake.
• Keep your medicine in their original containers. Some medicines need to be stored in dark containers. If the medicine is kept in the wrong type of container, it may become spoilt or lose its effectiveness.
• Pour medicine from a bottle with the label facing upwards. This prevents the
  medicine from dripping onto the label and hiding the drug name and directions.
• Make sure the label stays on the container until the medicine is used up so there will not be a mix up. Use a rubber band to keep the label in place if it comes loose.
• Flush leftover or expired medicine down the toilet bowl to prevent young
  children from picking them up.
• Ask the pharmacist, nurse or doctor about your medicine if you are not sure
  how or when to take it.
• If you need help in preparing each dose of medicine, ask a family member to
  prepare beforehand.
• Medicine can be put in pill boxes with time of medication labelled on top.

DON’T:

• Take different medicine together without asking your doctor first.
• Assume that medicine given for a previous illness are suitable for your present problem, even if the signs appear to be the same.
• Take medicine prescribed for other people or give yours to them, even if your symptoms look the same. The same medicine may have different effects on different people.
• Take medicine in the dark. Check the label each time before taking the medicine.
• Keep leftover medicine.
• Take medicine which have passed their expiry date.

Over the counter (OTC) medicine can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription e.g. vitamins, painkillers, antacids, cough and cold mixtures, laxatives.

• OTC medicine are used to relieve minor symptoms. They are not cures for any disease.
• Follow the directions given on the label. Ask the pharmacist for help if you do not understand the instructions.
• Use OTC medicine only for a short period of time. If the symptoms do not improve, see the doctor.

• There are any other medicines taken including medicines given by other doctors, and OTC medicine.
• Alcoholic drinks like beer are taken
• There are side effects e.g. skin rashes, dizziness, blurred vision, stomach upset after taking medicine.

• What results to expect from the medicine
• How long it would take before starting to feel better
• What side effects to look out for
• What precautions to take while on this medicine e.g. Is it safe to drive? Is there a need to avoid certain types of food
• How long the medicine need to be taken

Acute pain usually starts with an injury or illness. Pain ‘gates’ in the body open to allow pain messages through. When the messages reach the brain, it responds in 2 ways:

• by protecting the injury from further damage, and
• by closing the pain gates to reduce the level of pain.

Chronic pain is a constant pain that is difficult to treat as the cause of the pain may be unclear or cannot be removed e.g. arthritis. Feelings like depression and helplessness caused by chronic pain can make the pain seem worse and harder to bear.

When a person is in pain, it is natural to want to limit their activities. This reaction can actually make the problem worse by leading the person into a chronic pain cycle:-

They are likely to see themselves as not being able to accomplish anything and becoming useless.

• The family and friends may see them as disabled as they become more and more restricted by the pain.
• The family and friends are likely to start leaving them out of activities and doing things for them even when they can do it themselves.

Being aware of the cycle and understanding its effects can help avoid being drawn into it.

The healthcare team will evaluate the medical, physical, work and emotional needs and try to meet them in various ways. Changing from one specialist to another, looking for a cure, will not solve the problem. Specialists are in a better position to treat your pain if they can follow your progress over a continuous period of time. No single treatment works for every person, so be sure to consider all the options your healthcare team offers you.

• Personal Hygiene & Nutrition
  
• Incontinence
  
• Wound Care
  
• Exercise & Mobility
  
• The Psychosocial Aspect of Caregiving
  
• Medical Care
  
• Safe Use of Medicine
  
• Dying