Medication list for an elderly parent

What should go on a parent's medication list?

October 19, 2026

Everything they take, prescription or not: the name, what it's for, the dose and when they take it, who prescribed it, and when it started.

The CDC’s form says to “list every prescription medication, OTC medication, vitamin, supplement, and herbal product that you are currently taking.” Its columns are the name, the reason taken, the dose and directions, the prescribing provider, and notes.

For each medicine

• The name, exactly as it’s on the label, with the strength (like 10 mg).
• What it’s for, as the doctor told you, in plain words.
• The dose and when: how much, and what time of day.
• Who prescribed it, or “over the counter.”
• When it started, if you know.
• Notes, like “take with food,” as the label or the doctor said.

At the top

Your parent’s name and date of birth, their allergies, their pharmacy and its phone number, and the date the list was last updated, which the CDC puts first on its form.

the printable medication list has a place for each of these.

More questions caregivers ask

• Do vitamins and supplements go on the list?
• Should the list include medicines my parent stopped taking?
• How often should I update a parent's medication list?
• All the questions

From Centis, a free care notebook you talk to. A way to keep the list, not medical advice: questions about the medicines are for the doctor or pharmacist.