My wife is extremely negative about taking meds, even though it is only a few morning pills. How can I persuade her to take them?

See if the medications come in liquid form than can be put into a drink or applesauce. I had lots of care clients who struggled with large pills.

If a pill has a line across it, that means it can be split. This may help becuase you'll be able to split those.
All the rest - tablets, capsules, gel-tabs you will have to ask the doctor or pharmacist about.

Happyboy: Ask the physician or pharmacist if the pills are available in a different form.

Buy a pill crusher at the pharmacy or Amazon. We get pudding in small single-use containers.
Various flavors. Mix the crushed pill in the pudding and feed.
Agreed. Discontinue all statins and other stuff that is supposed to make her live another 20 years.

My first thing would be is are these pills really that important. Cholesterol meds I would cut out. They contribute to Dementia. Some doses maybe lowered. Vitamins could be chewable. It has been founds that in seniors medication does not leave the body as fast, so u sort of overdose. Labs will show if too much med is in her system.

I am going to state the obvious here but...
If these meds are not ones she HAS to take omit them.
Some can be cut or ground both have been mentioned previously.

Some medications can be prescribed in lower dose and then just take 2 rather than 1. I realize taking 2 sounds worse then taking 1 but the lower dose might be smaller in size.

Some medications can come in a patch that is applied to the back or shoulder (in a location where it is not easily be removed). You do have to be sure that the first patch is removed before another is put in place. I have heard where the person thought the patch came off but it slid down and they were "overdosing" because more than 1 patch was in place.

Some medications come as suppositories.
Some meds can also be prescribed as a liquid.

You've identified the issue: swallowing.

I agree with Venting, ask Dr which meds can be grounded & mix with yoghurt or apple puree.

For meds unable to grounded eg slow release type, ask about smaller size pills or smooth coated alternative brands.

Same experience with gagging. We asked the doctor, and it was OK to cut those specific pills into small parts. It became almost powder. We put it in yogurt. That worked out great.