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Prescription and Medication Safety
Prescription and Medication Safety
Never take any medication that has been prescribed for a friend or family member
Get prescriptions refilled far enough in advance to avoid running out of medication
- Make sure your medications are clearly labeled and carefully follow the label instructions. Keep a current record book of your medications.
- Review all your medications with your doctor or pharmacist at least once a year or when you start taking a new medication. This includes all prescription medications, non-prescription medications, herbal medications, dietary supplements and any other type of medication. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or pharmacist questions.
- Take medications at the proper time. Keep a record of the medications you are taking and organize your medication schedule. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about dossettes and blisterpaks for your medications.
- Never take medication in the dark. Turn on the light to ensure you have the right medication and are taking the correct dose.
- Never take more medication than prescribed. Taking twice as much never eans that you will get better twice as fast.
- The combination of alcohol and medication can have serious onsequences. Check with your doctor or harmacist.
- Know what your medications look like. If a refill f a prescription looks different than before, consult our pharmacist or doctor to make sure it is the orrect medication.
- Store your medications in a cool, dry place, away from bright light. Don’t keep our medications in the bathroom.
- For your safety, return old medications you are no longer using or medications hat are outdated to your local pharmacy.
Your Medications Could Be a hazard to your Grandchildren
Prescriptions for older adults are some of the most toxic medications, posing the greatest threat of a tragic outcome if swallowed by a child. Even the most loving grandparents can put their grandchildren in danger when they unknowingly overlook simple precautions.
Avoid taking medications in front of young children, as they like to imitate
- When visiting a home with young children, make sure medications in purses, bathroom kits, and suitcases are not available to children.
- Be careful of medication dossettes, they help to organize medications, but most are not child resistant.
- If young children visit your home, memember to keep medications and household chemicals locked or out of children’s reach.
- Only give infants and children over-the-counter medications that are specially formulated for their age and weight.
Many childhood medication accidents involve their grandparent’s prescriptions. Keep your medications out of the reach of children.
Physical Health and Wellness
Physical activity is one of the most important things you can do to maintain your physical and mental health. This will also help to improve your quality of life, as you get older.
- Physical inactivity makes your body age faster. Independent living depends on being able to do the things you want to do when you want to do them. To stay independent you need to be able to reach, bend, lift, carry and move around easily.
- You’re never too old to increase your level of physical activity. Most people say they gain strength endurance and flexibility by becoming more active. Almost immediately, many people notice they feel better and getting around is much easier.
- If you have not been active, then start with activities you can easily build into your daily routine.
- How much activity do I need? It is best to be active every day. Build physical activity into your daily routine. Try 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week to improve your health and fitness.
Some Activities to Choose From…
- Walking or biking
- Swimming
- Gardening or working in your yard
- Cross-country skiing or Curling
- Skating
- Join an exercise group
- Golfing
- Dancing
Benefits From Regular Physical Activity
- Stronger muscles and bones
- Better physical and mental health
- Continued independent living
- More energy
- Move with fewer aches and pains
- Improved self-esteem
- Weight maintenance
- Improved quality of life
Being active reduces the risk of:
- Heart disease
- Falls and injuries
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
- Adult-onset diabetes
- Depression
- Colon cancer
- Premature death
Getting started is easier than you think. Build physical activity into your daily routine, by doing the activities you are doing now, but just more often. Walk wherever and whenever you can. Start slowly with easy stretching and move around frequently. Slowly add activities to your daily routine that you enjoy.
Food Safety
- Shopping and cooking for one or two can be difficult. Here are
- some ideas to help keep foods safe and waste less:
- Foods don’t have to look or smell bad to be bad for you. If you’re not sure about
how long a food has been in the fridge, freezer or cupboard, throw it out. Your body will thank you! Seniors should avoid eating raw or undercooked meat or eggs, raw shellfish, alfalfa sprouts, and any unpasteurized food or drinks.When in
doubt…
throw it
out! - Wash hands and food preparation surfaces before and after each use with warm soapy water. Plastic cutting boards are easier to clean. Consider using paper towels to clean surfaces or wash towels often. Always wash any plate, pan, cutting board or container that was used with raw meat before using it for another purpose.
- All food requiring cooking should be done thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to make sure foods have been properly cooked to a safe internal temperature.
Keep hot
foods hot …
and cold
foods cold! - At room temperature, bacteria in food can double every 20 minutes. The more bacteria there are, the greater the chance you could become sick. Refrigerate foods quickly because cold temperatures keep most harmful bacteria from growing. Discard any perishable foods left at room temperature longer than two hours.
- Never thaw foods at room temperature. You can safely thaw food in the refrigerator. Clean out your refrigerator and freezer on a regular basis and discard outdated food. If you freeze or refrigerate foods, don’t forget to write the date on the container or packaging. Foods kept too long can cause food poisoning.
- Decide and plan what you’re going to have for the next few days or week. Use this plan to make a shopping list.