How do you keep track of medicines and appointments?

Good habits and a few simple aids help: a pill organizer or pharmacy packaging, reminders at set times, and one calendar for all your appointments. Many older adults have a lot to keep track of. According to the CDC, 43 percent of Americans 65 and older take five or more prescription drugs.

If you've ever stood with a pill bottle in your hand, wondering whether you took one this morning, you're far from alone. Many older adults have a lot to keep track of: according to the CDC, 43 percent of Americans aged 65 and older take five or more prescription drugs. And across all ages, the CDC estimates that about half of filled prescriptions aren't taken as directed.

Forgetting a dose says nothing about your character. What helps is a better system, and systems can be improved.

Let the box remember for you

The most effective simple step is to take the job of remembering out of your head:

• A weekly pill organizer costs very little and turns the question "did I take it?" into a glance at the box.
• Pharmacy packaging goes a step further. Many pharmacies can pack your medicines into small pouches or blister packs labeled with the day and time to take them. Ask your pharmacist whether they offer it and what it costs. It's especially helpful if you take several medicines a day.

A Cochrane review of 50 studies with more than 14,000 participants found that practical aids like these (packaging systems and reminders) may improve how reliably people take their medicines. The evidence isn't clear-cut, but it points in the right direction, and the downsides are small.

Tie your medicines to something you do anyway

Habits are stronger than willpower. Put your morning pills by the coffee maker and your evening pills by your toothbrush. When a medicine is tied to something you never skip, most missed doses stop being a problem.

Reminders that tell you when

When something doesn't have a fixed place in your day, reminders help: an alarm clock, your phone's alarm, or a voice assistant that tells you at the times you've set. The advantage of a spoken reminder is that you don't have to remember to look at anything. Choose the one you actually hear and act on.

Keep one calendar

Appointments get lost when they're written in several places: some on the fridge, some in your bag, some in your head. Choose one place, paper or electronic, and write everything in it right away, including things that aren't confirmed yet. An electronic calendar has the advantage that your family can help add appointments, even when they're not with you.

Ask your pharmacist, too

Your pharmacist is an overlooked resource. They can go through your medicines with you, explain what each one is for and spot combinations that don't go well together. In the US, Medicare drug plans offer a free review of your medicines, called Medication Therapy Management, to people who qualify. In the UK, the NHS offers appointments with a pharmacist when you start a new medicine. The UK government estimates that around one in five hospital admissions among people over 65 are caused by the side effects of medicines. So asking your pharmacist or doctor is prevention, not a bother.

This is general information, not medical advice. Every situation is different, so talk to a doctor about yours.