Too many medications? Help for older adults in Greenwood

For general educational purposes only, not a substitute for specific medical advice. Consult with a licensed provider before implementing any adjustments to your treatment regimen.

Older adults and medications in Greenwood and Johnson County

• Johnson County residents age 65 and older, compared with 18.4% statewide: 30,022 people (17.2% of 174,262 residents) (2025) ^[1]
• Medicare beneficiaries living in Johnson County, split between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage/other plans: 33,770 total; 16,463 Original Medicare; 17,307 Medicare Advantage and other (July 2026) ^[2]
• Johnson County Medicare beneficiaries with Part D prescription drug coverage, by plan type: 28,415 with Part D (13,187 stand-alone drug plans; 15,228 Medicare Advantage drug plans) (July 2026) ^[2]
• Johnson County adults with high blood pressure (modeled county estimate; U.S. 34.4%). Of those with high blood pressure, 76.5% take medicine for it: 37.8% (2023 BRFSS data, CDC PLACES 2025 release) ^[3]
• Other chronic conditions among Johnson County adults that are commonly treated with daily medicines (modeled county estimates; U.S. arthritis 25.4%, diabetes 12.0%, coronary heart disease 6.4%): Arthritis 28.7%; diagnosed diabetes 11.9%; coronary heart disease 6.0%; COPD 6.9% (2023 BRFSS data, CDC PLACES 2025 release) ^[3]
• City of Greenwood adults with high blood pressure, arthritis and diabetes (city-level modeled estimates); 75.2% of Greenwood adults with high blood pressure take medicine for it: High blood pressure 36.4%; arthritis 27.4%; diabetes 11.6% (2023 BRFSS data, CDC PLACES 2025 release) ^[4]

Where to get help in and around Greenwood

These local and state programs are free or low-cost places to start. Details can change, so check the program’s site before you go.

• Indiana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Free, impartial one-on-one Medicare counseling by volunteers certified by the Indiana Department of Insurance, in person, by phone or virtually. Helps compare Medicare Part D drug plans, Medicare Advantage and supplement plans, and apply for programs that help pay Medicare costs (LIS and Medicare Savings Programs). Phone: (800) 452-4800. Website ^[5]
• SHIP counseling sites serving Johnson County: Indiana SHIP lists these local sites for Johnson County: Otterbein SeniorLife (Franklin), Windrose Health Network-Franklin, Windrose Health Network-Trafalgar, and Independence Home Health (Nineveh). SHIP publishes city and ZIP only; call for location and hours. Phone: Otterbein SeniorLife (317) 736-1110; Windrose-Franklin (317) 739-4848; Windrose-Trafalgar (317) 412-9190; Independence Home Health (317) 933-3310. Website ^[6]
• CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions (Area 8 Area Agency on Aging): The Area Agency on Aging for the Indianapolis region, listed by Indiana SHIP as a Medicare counseling site serving Johnson County. Phone: (317) 803-6131. Website ^[6]
• Johnson County Senior Services transportation: Free door-to-door rides for Johnson County residents age 60 and over, including to medical appointments, within Johnson County and southern Marion County up to Southport Road. Office hours Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; ride reservations taken Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Phone: 317.738.4544. Website ^[7]
• Unwanted medicine disposal (IDEM guidance and DEA collection-site search): Indiana's environmental agency says to take unused medicines to a take-back collection site, find more sites with the DEA's Controlled Substance Public Disposal Locations Search, or, if no site is available, mix them with water, kitty litter or flour, seal them in a bag and put them in the trash. IDEM says not to flush medicine down the sink or drain. Website ^[8]
• Medicare Part D Medication Therapy Management (MTM) through your drug plan: Every Part D plan must run an MTM program. Enrollees who qualify are enrolled automatically (they can opt out) and are offered a yearly comprehensive medication review with a pharmacist or other qualified provider, in person or by live telehealth, with a written summary, plus quarterly targeted reviews. Call the member services number on your plan card to ask whether you qualify. Website ^[9]

Rules and coverage worth knowing

• Federal Part D rule (applies in Indiana), 42 CFR 423.153(d): plans may require no more than three chronic diseases and no more than eight Part D drugs for MTM eligibility, plus likely yearly Part D drug costs at or above the MTM cost threshold. Enrollment is opt-out, and the annual comprehensive medication review may be done in person or by synchronous telehealth. ^[9]
• CMS set the 2026 MTM cost threshold at $1,276 (the average annual cost of eight generic drugs, based on 2024 data). ^[10]
• Medicare Part D 2026: the standard deductible is $615 and the annual out-of-pocket threshold (cap) on covered Part D drugs is $2,100. ^[11]
• Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15-December 7; changes made by December 7 take effect January 1 of the next year. ^[12]

How a video visit with Charles Wade, FNP-BC can help

A medication review works well by video. Sit at the kitchen table with every bottle within reach and hold each label up to the camera. With the patient’s permission, an adult child or caregiver can join to share observations and questions.

Charles Wade, FNP-BC can go through the list, talk about dizziness or falls, order lab tests at a facility near Greenwood and send any prescription changes to your pharmacy. Wade’s Care First accepts Original Medicare in Indiana. Routine refill visits are for established patients and non-controlled medicines, and a visit does not guarantee any specific medication or change.

Lab work and imaging are ordered at a facility near you, and prescriptions go to the Greenwood-area pharmacy you choose. See labs, imaging and pharmacies near Greenwood. Insurance accepted in Indiana: BCBS / Anthem PPO, UnitedHealthcare PPO, UMR (PPO), Aetna PPO, Cigna PPO, Humana PPO, Ambetter PPO, Original Medicare, Indiana Medicaid, Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), MHS, MHS — Hoosier Healthwise, MHS — Hoosier Care Connect, Humana — Indiana PathWays for Aging, Wellcare by Allwell (Medicare), Ambetter (Indiana), CareSource (Indiana), Anthem BCBS (Indiana HMO), Cigna (Indiana), TRICARE. Self-pay visits are also available.

When to get care right away

For a fall with injury, sudden confusion, fainting, trouble breathing or a possible overdose, call 911 or go to the emergency department at Community Hospital South, Franciscan Health Indianapolis or Johnson Memorial Health in Franklin.

Keep reading

• Polypharmacy in Older Adults: When Are Too Many Medications Risky?: the full patient guide.
• Telehealth care in Greenwood: local labs, imaging, pharmacies and visit planning.
• Geriatric Care at Wade’s Care First
• Telehealth care across Indiana

Sources

1. STATS Indiana (Indiana Business Research Center), Johnson County profile
2. CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment data
3. CDC PLACES
4. CDC PLACES
5. in.gov
6. in.gov
7. cirta.us
8. in.gov
9. law.cornell.edu
10. cms.gov
11. cms.gov
12. medicare.gov

Local figures are the most recent published by the listed agencies as of November 12, 2026. This page does not replace advice from your own clinician.