Storing Medications Safely

As we and our loved ones age, it becomes increasingly likely that we will need to take medications for chronic conditions. We also usually keep over the counter medications in our homes for pain management, symptoms of the common cold or other simple occasional problems. The most common places to store medications are the bathroom and the kitchen. There are issues with both places.

The bathroom may be a convenient place to store medication but there is a great deal of humidity due to bathing activities we complete in the bathroom. The medicine chest is often placed over the sink which increases the rate at which medication is affected by moisture. Medications will often lose potency from the exposure.

The kitchen is the other place that people store medications. This keeps them convenient to remind us to take them as we should but will often put them in easy reach of children. We should always take care to teach children to leave medicines alone but the teaching isn’t always effective. There is less chance of humidity becoming a problem in the kitchen.

The safest place to store medications is in a sealed container (Rubbermaid, Tupperware or such) in an upper level cabinet.

Keeping Connected through Faith

Today is Easter Sunday for many of us here in America and over the rest of the world. Passover began at sundown last Monday evening. There are Islamic observances during this time as well. As we age, it becomes more difficult to attend services at our local place of worship while it often becomes more important to our sense of well being to participate in religious practice. It is important for those of us who are still able to move about without problems to make the effort to support the desire to attend services for our aging relatives and friends.

There are also ways for mobility challenged persons to participate in religion via technology. More churches are broadcasting over the web as well as those that have broadcast on television or radio for many years. As it relates to smart phones…there’s an app for that. You can now download a copy of your holy book or stream video from your chosen place of worship. It would be a very good thing to help our aging relatives to be able to worship electronically.

Allergies change over time

The news broadcasts are heralding the pollen counts for tomorrow and the rest of the week, apparently they are going to be exceptionally high for certain tree pollens. Most of us know if we are allergic to pollens and know what medication or other treatment works well for us. What we often forget or may not be aware of, allergies can change over time. As we age, we may suddenly find that spring or fall allergy season is suddenly a problem.  If you are experiencing itchy, reddened eyes, stuffiness or sneezing you may be allergic to something in your environment, if it is new, see your Primary Care Physician who may refer you to an Allergist.

Eating well for improved health

There is a renewed interest in improving our lives by improving how we eat. The obesity epidemic is discussed on TV and radio and in print media every day. One circumstance that is not part of the conversation is how to encourage our aging population to take in enough calories and the proper nutrients in order to keep them healthy. As we age, our ability to taste diminishes and eating becomes less enjoyable. Also, eating alone is more often the reality for aging people and it is less fun that food taken in company. Unfortunately, we find that many people grab a quick meal that is high in processed foods which do not deliver complete nutrition.

To combat these circumstances, take the time to cook with your loved ones and encourage them to experiment with more strongly flavored foods. Spices and other seasonings may need to be added in greater quantities and trying to balance the amount of fat in the diet with the need to reduce the effects of fat on the heart. Remember that fat adds flavor to food. Limiting processed foods and cooking more “from scratch” will improve the nutritional quality of the foods they have to eat. Cooking with them, preparing meals that can be frozen and reheated later and helping them to shop for healthy foods will go a long way to improve their quality of life.

Writing your Medical and Financial Power of Attorney

It is advisable to write a will with the help of an attorney and to write a medical power of attorney and a financial power of attorney. These legal documents will help you and your family handle issues when they crop up with a minimum of confusion.

An attorney friend of mine recently told me that she often needs to convince people that they need to not worry about offending someone. You need to make a choice regarding who you trust to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf if you are not able. If you talk it over with the person accepting the responsibility before the documents are signed you will be sure to have some one who is willing to help.

After the documents are signed, take the time to sit down with other interested parties to let them know what decisions have been made and to help them to understand that you still love them but you have asked X to take the responsibility for your own reasons. You will probably find that everyone is relieved that choices have been made and a plan is in place.

Gun safety in the home

You only need to open the newspaper or turn on the television to see that there is a great deal of gun violence. The response to this violence is to either get rid of any firearms or to get and keep a gun in the house. Whichever choice you make, you have every right to decide for yourself. One thing you need to be sure of if you choose to own a gun you must take gun safety into consideration. There is nothing more unsafe than having a gun in the house that you do not know how to handle.

If your aging relative has a weapon in the house, take the time to be sure that they can still use it properly. Take them to the firing range to have them checked by an expert. It is a good idea to verify with them that they know how to load, unload, clean and where the safety is and when it is on or off. Be sure that they have the gun and the ammunition stored safely.

If your relative has changes in their mental status or physical condition that result in them being no longer able to use a gun safely, ask them to give up the weapon. If they wish to keep the gun, do what you can to remove all of the ammunition from the house.