NEWS photo Terry Peters “HOMECARE nurse Marjory Mastin (lefi) and Dorothy Bull look over me of Buil’s medication to make sure that there are no duplications or rongly prescribed drugs. Oi 445 Marine ‘Drive . a orth Vancouver raciuTiesa services: @& EXCLUSIVELY FOR WOMEN * INDIVIDUAL LOCKERS ® LIFECYCLE AND FAN BIKES ” © PRIVATE DRESSING BOOTHS * AEROBIC CLASSES | ® NO-BOUNCE AEROBICS @ _"® CUSHIONED WOOD FLOOR * FREE-WEIGHTS “* WHIRLPOOL * SAUNA © PRIVATE SHOWERS ® 6 35 - Sunday, April 12, 1987 - North Shore News ledication mix ups This is the sixth in a series of articles to appear on the lifestyles front Sundays on the work being done by the North Shore Seniors’ Services Providers Forum in initiating coordinated community action in the care of the clderly. DOROTHY and George K., in their 70s, are both: on medication for chronic conditions. They pour their pills into a bowl on the kitchen table so they will remember to take them. Bernice A., 80, grew up during a time when nothing was thrown away. She has bottles and vials in several places around her apart- ment. If an emergency occurred, it would be difficult to determine what medication she is now using. These habits aren’t restricted to the elderly. Barbara T., 37, always ‘‘saves a bit’? of her prescriptions in case she gets the symptoms again. The Action Plan produced by The North Shore Seniors’ Services Providers Forum recommends in- creasing public awareness of the proper use of medication. “People must take responsibility _ for monitoring their medication,” says. Jeanette. Roop, homecare administrator with the North Shore. Health Department. Homecare nurses, physiotherapists and - homemakers | see - situations similar. to those described above every day... “We find: people taking what they think are two different medications but are really the same thing under two names prescribed by two different doctors. If an elderly person is seeing one or more specialists as well as a family doctor. it is possible to have a number of medications that duplicate or conflict.” It is a good practice, says Roop, to use the ‘same pharmacy all. the time and to enlist the help. of a’ trained pharmacologist in ‘understanding’. and monitoring your medications. Daryl Wing, phar- macist/manager. of Davies Phar- macy, agrees. Provincial law re- quires pharmacies to keep drug profiles o2 regular customers. “J will notice if a new: prescrip- tion for one of my customers con- flicts with something they already have. I'll explain it'to the’ customer and call the physician to discuss an alternative,"’ says: Wing. '**Howev-_ er, if the customer has ‘also been obtaining prescriptions somewhere else I wort be aware of that valuable in‘urmation.”” Sunday, Apri join us fo ‘Added. Features: « Pianist e Easter Bunny with Eggs Kiddies Soft Drink Bar e Fresh Flowers And. for only.» « Prices: Adults: $9.95 Seniors: $8.95 Children (10 & Under} Children ( 4 & Under) | An Baath alt Via Beaulil« « «x 4900 Deer Lake Ave. Bumaby Deer Lake Park Vill Burnaby, B.C. Maseam And take in their _extensive Easter Holiday Celebrations r Brunch! 40a. Chilled Fruit juices, Yoguris Selection of Fresh Baked Breads : Eastez Bread Croissants, Danis. & Muffins & Domestic Cheeses Fresin fruit Display Selection uf Spring Satads Seafood Terrine Whole Salmon Display Pate en Croute Variety of Thinly Sliced Meats $5.95 and European FREE Style Sausages fo Fruit Crepes, Scrambled Exgs Bacon, Ham & Sausages Hot Cakes, French Toast Carved Ham with Rum Sauce Beef Stroganoff Omelettes (Cooked to Order) Carved Baron of Beef ie Colfee or Tea. or dinner in the Castile Dining Room. 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Special ne ’ Holiday Menu featuring among others, a full course Easter Ham Dinner for only $14.95 Plenty of Free Parking Make your reservations now - call Holiday Hostess 430-2828 Wing would like to see better public awareness of the ways in which prescription medications are misused, such as: *Failing to finish off a prescrip- tion. Often when antibiotics are used, the patient feels better right away so he stops taking the medication. Then the symptoms return, usually more severely. it is important, says Wing, to take the full course of medication, *Doctoring self with old prescriptions. Some medications lose their potency. But some, says Wing,: can actually break’ down and. become toxic after’a time. *Putting . several: different medications: into one handy con- tainer. Some. pills ‘interact and become altered. For example, ni- troglycerine tablets, carried by people with heart problems, can be rendered useless. - : The presence of unidenti pills can also be a problem if emergency aid is necessary. Medication should be-kept in its original. container with the label describing medication and dosage. *Ignoring directions for taking the medication.. The timing . and frequency are geared to obtain the maximum. benefit. from drugs. The North Shore Seniors’. Ser- vices providers Forum wants your conunents and ideas. To obtain a summary of the Position Paper and Questionnaire call 986-7111, 988-. 3131 or 984-9511. 7