• Read the labels of your medications carefully, and follow the directions.

• Look for pictures or statements on your prescriptions and pill bottles that tell you not to drink alcohol while taking the particular medication. If you are taking medications for sleeping, pain, anxiety, or depression, it is unsafe to drink alcohol.

• One alcoholic drink a day is the recommended limit for anyone over the age of 65 who has not been diagnosed with a drinking problem. That’s 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, or 5 ounces of wine.

• Talk to your health care professional about all medicines you take, including prescription; over-the-counter (OTC) medications; and dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbals.

• Tell your doctor about any food or medicine allergies you have.

• Keep track of side effects, and let your doctor know immediately about any unexpected symptoms or changes in the way you feel.

• Go through your medicine cabinet at least once a year to get rid of old or expired medicines.

• Have all of your medicine reviewed by your doctor at least once a year.

Too much gas and other stomach problems may make you stay away from foods you think cause the problem. This means you could be missing out on important nutrients, such as vitamins, calcium, fiber, and protein.

What to do: Try other foods

Instead of: Try:
milk          ———>                                      milk foods that may not bother you, such as
cream soups, pudding, yogurt, and cheese

vegetables such        ——->                         vegetable juices and other vegetables, such as
as cabbage and                                                   green beans, carrots, and potatoes
broccoli

fresh fruit           ——–>                             fruit juices and soft canned fruits

See a doctor about stomach problems.

Do you have trouble chewing? If so, you may have trouble eating foods such as meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

What to do: Try other foods

Instead of: Try:
fresh fruit            ——>                          fruit juices and soft canned fruits, such as
applesauce, peaches, and pears

raw vegetables       ——->                     vegetable juices and creamed and mashed
cooked vegetables

meat              ——->                            ground meat, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, and
foods made with milk, such as pudding and
cream soups

sliced bread         ——–>                    cooked cereals, rice, bread pudding, and soft
cookies

Aging Problem(3): Can’t shop

You may have problems shopping for food. Maybe you can’t drive anymore. You may have trouble walking or standing for a long time.

What to do:

• Ask the local food store to bring groceries to your home. Some stores deliver free. Sometimes there is a charge.

• Ask your church or synagogue for volunteer help. Or sign up for help with a local volunteer center.

• Ask a family member or neighbor to shop for you. Or pay someone to do it. Some companies let you hire home health workers for a few hours a week. These workers may shop for you, and do other things.

Aging Problem(4): Can’t cook

You may have problems with cooking. It may be hard for you to hold cooking utensils and pots and pans. Or you may have trouble standing for a long time.

What to do:
• Use a microwave oven to cook TV dinners, other frozen foods, and foods made up ahead of time by the store.

• Take part in group meal programs, offered through senior citizen programs. Or have meals brought to your home.

• Move to a place where someone else will cook, such as a family member’s home or a home for senior citizens.