Elderly parent medication checklist after hospital discharge

Medication confusion is one of the easiest ways for discharge to go sideways. The goal is one current list, one pickup plan, and one person responsible for setup.

Before the next dose

• Ask what is new, changed, stopped, or unchanged.
• Confirm the next dose time for every new or changed medication.
• Ask whether each medication should be taken with food, water, or at a certain time of day.
• Confirm which pharmacy has the prescriptions and when they can be picked up.
• Ask what to do if a dose is missed or if the pharmacy does not have the medication.

Questions for the pharmacist or doctor

• What is this medication for?
• What side effects should family ask about?
• Could this cause dizziness, sleepiness, constipation, confusion, appetite changes, or falls?
• Does it interact with any existing medication, supplement, or over-the-counter medicine?
• Can the pharmacy simplify packaging, refill timing, or labels?

At home

• Use one current medication list and cross out old copies.
• Store old bottles separately until a clinician or pharmacist confirms what to discard.
• Choose who fills the pill organizer.
• Choose who double-checks the first setup.
• Track missed doses, side effects, refill problems, or questions in the care log.

Get the Free Discharge Checklist