Dr. Rein Tideiksaarpresident of FallPrevent LLC, owns a consulting firm that delivers services and education related to fall prevention.

He specializes in working with the elderly patients and is a geriatric physician assistant. In an article written by Tideiksaar, he gives useful advice to seniors who misuse prescription medications, warning that it could put them at risk."There is an epidemic of drug mishandling among elders that threatens their well-being," says Tideiksaar.Since close to 90 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition, many of them take at least one medication. If an individual does not follow the prescribed dosage, it could put their health at risk by causing mental and physical deficiencies. The main hazard is falling.The various drugs often misused:• Anxiety and depression meds• Pain relievers• Sedatives for sleep disordersHow older adults mismanage the drugs:• Double dosing. They take too much because they forget they already took the meds.• Self-medicating. Often a person cannot afford the medication, so they take another person's medicine because it's easier than going to the doctor. Or they take a drug that's expired.• They take an extra amount to "feel better." It happens with medications used to treat depression, anxiety or chronic pain. It can cause an overdose.• An individual may mix the prescription med while drinking alcohol. It's very dangerous due to the potential interactions. As a person ages, they require less alcohol to become intoxicated because the metabolism slows down.Detecting misuse is hard enough but bringing it into conversation can be awkward. It's uncomfortable to confront a parent, right? But if a loved one shows any one of these signs, Tideiksaar says it's time to have a discussion with the person's medical team about the medication problem:• If the individual demonstrates memory difficulties after taking medication• If they become unsteady when walking or lose balance easily• If they have frequent falls• If they change sleeping practices• If they have unexplained bruising• If they become irritable, sad or depressed• If they experience unexplained chronic painThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, report one in every three adults over 65 falls and the risk goes up with each decade. The consequences facing older adults are hip fractures and traumatic brain injuries. The results significantly affect independence. But falls are preventable, and one of the first areas to lessen the risk is monitoring an adult's medication routine.If you have a question about preventing falls, email Tideiksaar at

drrein@verizon.net.Carol Marak is the editor at SeniorCare.com. Contact her at

Carol@SeniorCare.com.