Safe Medication Habits for Aging Parents: A Red Ribbon Week Guide

Keeping a parent's medications safe at home is supported by steady habits: store them securely, keep an up-to-date list, take them as prescribed, and get rid of anything expired or no longer needed. Those habits protect your parent, and they protect everyone else who walks through their door, from visiting grandkids to the neighbor who stops by to help.

October 23 to 31 is Red Ribbon Week, the country's longest-running drug prevention campaign. It began in honor of DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena, who was killed in the line of duty in 1985, and has been observed nationally since 1988. Schools and families across Missouri are wearing red ribbons this week. The 2026 theme, "Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free." celebrates the everyday choices that influence the people around us.

For families caring for an aging parent, one of those everyday choices is right inside the medicine cabinet. We asked Sandra Ternes, AbriCare's Referral Intake Manager and a Home Care leader with more than 20 years experience serving clients and community members, share what simple steps can make a big difference.

Q&A With Sandra

Why does medication safety matter so much for older adults living at home?

A lot of our clients see several doctors, and each one may prescribe something. Add a hospital stay or a surgery, and suddenly there are new bottles, changed doses, and old prescriptions that nobody threw away. It adds up quickly. Most families don't realize how much has collected until they sit down and pull everything out of the cabinet.

What's the first thing you look at in a client's home?

Where the medications live. They're often spread around the house, some in the bathroom cabinet, some on the nightstand, a bottle in a purse. I like to see everything gathered in one spot, ideally somewhere cool and dry. A bathroom gets steamy, so a kitchen cabinet away from the stove or a bedroom dresser usually works better.

How should families store medications when grandkids or guests visit?

With the holidays coming, this is a big one. Grandkids are curious, and a pill bottle on the counter or in Grandma's coat pocket is easy to reach. A small lockable medication box costs about the same as a nice dinner out and solves most of the problem. At the very least, keep medications up high and out of sight, and ask guests to keep their own bags off the floor.

How can a CareGiver help with medications?

Our CareGivers provide medication reminders, so your parent takes the right medication at the right time. They can keep the pill organizer area tidy, and let the family know if something seems off, like a missed dose or a bottle running low. Decisions about doses and prescriptions stay with your parent's doctor and pharmacist. Having another set of eyes in the home every day gives a lot of families peace of mind.

What should families do with medications their parent no longer needs?

Get them out of the house. That includes leftover pain medication after a surgery, prescriptions a doctor has stopped, and anything past its expiration date. It also includes a loved one's medications after they pass, which is something families often aren't sure how to handle. The easiest option is a medication drop box at a police station or pharmacy. It's free, anonymous, and you don't have to sort anything first. Remove or mark out the personal information on the labels, and you're done.

What's one small thing families can do this Red Ribbon Week?

Pick an afternoon and clean out the medicine cabinet together. Make a current list of everything your parent takes and share it with whoever helps with their care. Then bag up what's no longer needed and drop it off. If the grandkids are around, bring them along. It's a simple way to show them what taking care of each other looks like.

Where to Drop Off Unused Medications Near You

You don't have to wait for a special event. Each of our communities has year-round drop boxes, and they're free and anonymous. For the closest location to your parent's ZIP code, use the DEA's Take Back locator. Most drop boxes accept pills, patches, and ointments, but not needles, inhalers, or aerosols, so check before you go.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it OK to flush old medications or throw them in the trash?

A drop box is the best choice. If there isn't one nearby, the FDA recommends mixing most medications with something unappealing, like used coffee grounds or cat litter, sealing it in a bag, and putting it in the household trash. Only flush a medication if its label or the FDA's flush list says to.

When is the next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day?

The DEA holds Take Back Day twice a year, in April and October. The fall 2026 event was Saturday, October 24. Year-round drop boxes are open between events.

Can a CareGiver give my parent their medications?

AbriCare CareGivers provide medication reminders and help keep your parent's routine on track. Questions about doses or changes to prescriptions should go to your parent's doctor or pharmacist.

How often should we review a parent's medications?

Make sure to review after any hospitalization and after any doctor's visit.

How quickly can home care start?

AbriCare starts with a home assessment to understand your parent's needs and daily routine. From there, we pair your parent with a CareGiver and confirm a start date if it's determined that Abricare is a good fit and any eligibility requirements are met. If your family needs help soon, call your local office in North Kansas City, Rolla, the St. Louis area, or Springfield directly.

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Sources: Red Ribbon Week 2026 theme, DEA: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, Missouri DHSS: Permanent Medication Drop Box Locations

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