Learning to manage medications in home care can change how an older person feels every day. Too many medicines can quietly cause the very symptoms they are meant to prevent. For many older adults in the UAE, each new specialist adds a new tablet. Over time, the list grows, and nobody steps back to look at the whole picture. One of our patients, a retired CEO, decided to do exactly that. His story shows how families and home care teams can manage medications with clarity and confidence.
This article shares what happened, explains why small side effects can add up, and shows how families can work with doctors to review an older parent’s medicines safely.
A Real Story: How a CEO Chose to Manage Medications in Home Care
A gentleman in his eighties was receiving round-the-clock nursing care from our team at home. He was a retired senior business leader, mentally sharp and still walking on his own. He also lived with several long-term health conditions, and he was taking around 40 prescribed medicines every day.
For a long time, he struggled with constipation and bloating. It affected how he felt every single day. He moved from one doctor to another, looking for an answer.
Then one day, he called the nursing team into his home. “Enough is enough,” he said. “I want you to pull the leaflet for every medicine I take. Show me which ones could be causing my stomach problems. Then I will decide what to discuss with my doctors.”
So the team did exactly that. They checked each medicine using Medscape, a trusted professional drug reference. For every medicine, they noted its purpose and side effects. Anything linked to constipation, bloating, nausea or other stomach symptoms was highlighted. The findings went into a clear spreadsheet report.
The report showed four medicines that could each contribute to constipation. One was pantoprazole, a stomach-acid medicine that had recently been started for reflux and a cough. Constipation is one of its listed side effects.
With the report in hand, he spoke with his hospital consultants, who had prescribed the medicines. Together, they agreed to stop two of them. His constipation did not disappear completely, because his other health conditions still play a part. However, it became much easier for him to manage. For him, that was what mattered most.
Why Small Side Effects Can Add Up
Every medicine leaflet lists possible side effects. Often, each one looks small or uncommon on paper. However, when a person takes several medicines that share the same side effect, the overall risk can build up. This is sometimes called an additive effect.
In other words, four medicines that can each cause a little constipation may together cause a lot more. The same applies to drowsiness, dizziness, confusion and falls. Older adults are especially sensitive, because the liver and kidneys may clear medicines more slowly with age. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) highlights this and encourages families to check for interactions with a pharmacist or doctor.
Polypharmacy in Home Care: Signs of Too Many Medicines
Doctors often use the word “polypharmacy” to describe taking many medicines at once. It is not always wrong, since many older adults genuinely need several treatments. However, it does need regular review. Watch for:
- Constipation, bloating, nausea or poor appetite
- Drowsiness, dizziness or unsteadiness
- New confusion or memory problems
- Falls or near-falls
- Medicines from several different doctors or hospitals
- The same medicine under two different brand names
- A new medicine started to treat the side effect of another
- Missed or doubled doses because the routine is too complex
How We Manage Medications in Home Care: Reconciliation First
At Enayati, every patient’s care starts with medication reconciliation. This means building one complete, accurate list of everything your parent takes. That includes:
- Prescribed medicines from every doctor and hospital
- Pharmacy medicines bought without a prescription
- Vitamins, supplements and herbal remedies
- “As needed” medicines kept in a drawer and taken occasionally
Our nurses then check the full list for interactions and side effects using trusted references such as Medscape and the British National Formulary (BNF). Anything of concern is shared with the family and the prescribing doctor.
The Beers Criteria: a safety checklist doctors use
Geriatric specialists often check an older person’s medicines against the AGS Beers Criteria. Published by the American Geriatrics Society and last updated in 2023, it lists medicines whose risks may outweigh their benefits for older adults. Some should usually be avoided. Others need extra care, a lower dose or regular review. In the UK and Europe, doctors often use a similar tool called the STOPP/START criteria.
The Beers Criteria came up throughout the first Emirates Geriatrics Society conference in October 2026, from medical student teaching to pharmacy safety. It is a guide for professionals, not a rule. A medicine on the list may still be the right choice for your parent. However, it is a useful prompt to ask the doctor, “Is this still the safest option?” As the American Geriatrics Society also stresses, never stop a medicine without checking with the prescriber first.
A free tool families can use
We recommend the free Medscape app to families caring for older parents. Its drug interaction checker lets you enter all your parent’s medicines and see which ones may interact, and how.
An interaction does not always mean a medicine must be stopped. Sometimes the answer is simply changing the timing. For example, some medicines, such as thyroid tablets, need to be taken apart from other medicines. Medscape is designed for health professionals, so use it as a starting point for questions. Always confirm any changes with your pharmacist or doctor.
How to Talk to the Doctor About Too Many Medicines
Our patient’s approach is a good model for any family. Here is how you can do the same:
- Bring everything. Take every medicine, or a complete list, to the appointment.
- Describe the symptom that matters most. For example, “Constipation is affecting his quality of life.”
- Ask about each medicine. “What is this for? Is it still needed? Could it be causing this symptom? Is it on the Beers Criteria?”
- Ask about benefits and risks. Every medicine has both. The doctor will help weigh them.
- Agree a plan. Any changes should be made one at a time, with follow-up.
- Never stop a medicine on your own. Some medicines are dangerous to stop suddenly.
Doctors call the careful, supervised reduction of unnecessary medicines “deprescribing”. Our doctor at home service can review your parent’s medicines at home and work alongside their specialists. You may also find our guide to medication safety in homecare helpful.
FAQ: How to Manage Medications in Home Care
How can families manage medications in home care?
Start with one complete list of every medicine, including pharmacy items, supplements and occasional “as needed” medicines. Keep it updated, use one pharmacy where possible, and review it regularly with the doctor. A home care nurse can organise doses, check interactions and share concerns with the prescriber.
How many medicines is too many for an older person?
There is no single number. Taking five or more medicines is often used as a point to review them carefully. What matters most is whether each medicine is still needed, working well and not causing harm. A regular review with the doctor or pharmacist is the safest approach.
Can too many medicines cause constipation?
Yes. Many common medicines list constipation as a possible side effect. When several are taken together, the effect can add up. If your parent has ongoing constipation, ask the doctor to review all their medicines as part of the assessment.
Is it safe to stop some of my parent’s medicines?
Only with medical advice. Some medicines can cause serious problems if stopped suddenly. Share your concerns with the prescribing doctor, who can decide whether a medicine can be reduced or stopped safely, and how.
What are the Beers Criteria?
The Beers Criteria, from the American Geriatrics Society, list medicines that may carry more risk than benefit for older adults. Doctors and pharmacists use them to review prescriptions. They are a guide, not a rule, so always discuss any concerns with your parent’s doctor before changing anything.
As a home care team, we learn a great deal from our patients. This gentleman reminded us that too many medicines can hide the cause of everyday symptoms. To manage medications in home care well, families need clear information, and clear information leads to better conversations with doctors.
Important: This article shares general information and a real-life example. It is not medical advice. If anything here raises a question about your parent’s medicines, please discuss it with their treating physician. Do not stop or change any medicine until you have spoken with the treating physician.
If you are worried about your parent’s medicines, please WhatsApp us on +971 55 352 0186 to speak to a nurse.
