Medication Management
Checklist for Family
Caregivers

Someone asks, “What medications is she taking now?” That should be a simple question. Instead, one prescription changed at the cardiologist, another came from the hospital, the pharmacy has an old refill on file, and the paper list in the kitchen has not been updated since spring.

A useful medication list does not make medication decisions for the family. It gives the caregiver and healthcare professionals one current reference to work from.

What belongs on a current medication list?

The FDA recommends keeping an up-to-date list that includes prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and supplements, along with information such as medication name, strength and directions. For family caregivers, a few additional organizational fields make the list easier to use during appointments and care transitions.

• Medication name
• Dose, strength or form as listed on the current source
• Directions for how and when it is taken, as provided
• What it is for, if that information has been provided and is useful to record
• Prescribing clinician
• Preferred or dispensing pharmacy and phone number
• Relevant refill information
• Prescription and over-the-counter medicines
• Vitamins, supplements and herbal products being used
• Known medication allergies and reactions, if known
• Recent medication changes that still need to be reflected across family records
• Questions that need to go back to the clinician or pharmacist

Build the list from written information whenever possible

Medication information gets risky when the family starts reconstructing it from memory. Use the most current written sources available and label uncertainty instead of filling gaps with assumptions.

Good sources to gather

• Current prescription bottles, packaging or pharmacy medication information
• The latest medication list from the primary care office or relevant specialist
• Recent hospital or discharge medication instructions, when applicable
• A list of OTC medicines, vitamins and supplements actually being used
• Recent written changes from a clinician or pharmacist

Record allergies and reactions separately from the medication table

Do not bury allergy information in a notes column where it can be missed. Keep a clearly labeled section for known medication allergies and the reaction, if known. The National Institute on Aging advises making sure clinicians and pharmacists have an up-to-date list of medication allergies.

• Medication or substance
• Reaction, if known
• When or where the information was documented, if useful
• Questions about an uncertain allergy that need professional clarification

Use the medication list at appointments — not just at home

The value of the list is that it travels with the person. Keep a copy that can be reached quickly on a phone, in a wallet or purse, or in another reliable location the family actually uses.

• Bring the current list to primary care and specialist visits.
• Share it with the pharmacist when medication records may be incomplete across pharmacies.
• Have it available during hospital or emergency care.
• Share the current version with an authorized caregiver who may accompany the person to appointments.
• Replace or clearly retire outdated copies so the family knows which list is current.

Ask whether a brown-bag medication review would help

AHRQ describes a “brown bag” medication review as having the patient bring medicines and supplements to a visit so the healthcare team can compare what the person is actually taking with the medication record. This can be particularly useful when several medication sources or old bottles have accumulated.

Ask the clinician or pharmacist whether they want you to bring medication bottles, packaging, inhalers, creams, supplements, pill organizers or other medication information to a review. Bring your written medication list too.

When should you update the list?

There is no benefit to waiting for an annual cleanup if the medication picture changed yesterday. Review the list when something meaningful changes.

• A new medication is prescribed.
• A healthcare professional changes the dose, directions or timing.
• A medication is stopped by the appropriate clinician.
• The person comes home from the hospital or another care transition.
• A new specialist becomes involved.
• The pharmacy changes.
• An allergy or reaction is newly documented.
• You discover that two supposedly current lists do not match.