Three instruction schemes for self-medication in older patients were designed and compared to see whether they improved drug compliance. Forty-six patients in two rehabilitation units were divided into three different groups. Each group was instructed verbally on the nature and amount of their medication. One group was also given a tear-off calendar and a second group a tablet identification card as a memory aid. Patients were then responsible for taking their own medicine for 14 days. Those with calendars made fewer errors than those with cards, and those with either a card or a calendar made significantly fewer errors than those given only standard instructions.