During my nearly 30 years serving as a PA, I’ve found that older adults face unique challenges when it comes to pain management. For example, many older adults experience multiple chronic conditions, which often means they take several medications. In fact, Kaiser Family Foundation found that 89 percent of adults 65 and older take prescription medicines, and more than half of older adults take four or more prescription drugs. Taking multiple medications increases the opportunity for drug interactions, so healthcare providers should always review current medications with patients, including over-the-counter medications and supplements, to confirm that prescription opioids are safe to prescribe. Additionally, providers should also have a conversation with their patient to make sure no new prescriptions have been recently added by another provider.