Up & Coming Weekly

Drug Interactions can Jeopardize Senior Health by MARTHA OWEN and SUSAN GUY With new technology, medical knowledge and treatments emerging every day, it is common that one could take several different medications. Between vitamins, supplements and over-the-counter medications, it is understandable that keeping up with one’s medications can be a confusing task! An estimated one-third to one- half of all patients in the U.S. don’t take their medications as prescribed by their doctors, according to the New England Health care Institute (NEHI). Chronic disease patients who do not consistently take their medications often experience preventable worsen- ing of disease, becoming vulnerable to serious medical risks. Among all patient groups, poor Closing the Book on the Big Read by Kellie Tomita A little organization can prevent medicinal mishaps adherence poses an increased risk of hospitalizations, resulting in significant costs. For example, among diabetes patients, those with low levels of adherence have almost twice the annual health care costs of those with high level of adherence ($16,498 versus $8,886). According to the NEHI, patients who don’t take their medications properly jeopardize their health as well as put a strain on the health-care system. There are steps to take that will help with medication adherence. First, consider purchasing a pill organizer. They are inexpensive and can usually be purchased at a local dollar store. This tool, which will provide a way to organize pills in compartments by days of the week, helps ensure that medications are being taken on schedule. Second, always keep an updated list of medications including non-prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and supplements with you at all times. Many people like to keep the list in their wallets. That way, if unexpected medical care is ever needed, accurate and safe treatment can be given. Third, periodically schedule a “brown bag” appointment with your primary care physician. Gather all of your medicines bottles, including over the counter drugs, vita- mins, supplements, etc., and carry them to your doctor in a brown paper bag. This will allow him to check for dangerous interactions, overlooked expirations, etc. In this day and age, it is common to have several physicians prescribing different drugs, and they don’t always know what the other has prescribed! Finally, consider assistance if the task becomes too confusing. Home Instead Senior Care CAREGivers are screened, trained, bonded, and insured, and the company makes every effort to match their employees with the interests and hobbies of the individual for whom they are providing care and companionship. Since a full 75% of U.S. health care spending goes to the treatment of chronic dis- ease, poor medication adherence presents a serious roadblock to efforts to improve health care efficiency and affordability. To learn more about Home Instead Senior Care, contact Martha Owen or Susan Guy at 910.484.7200 or visit www. homeinstead.com. MARTHA OWEN & SUSAN GUY Contributing Writers COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com Carson McCullers’ heart and soul was moved by classical music, so much so that it became a way of escape for the main character in her novel, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, which is the focus of this year’s The Big Read. Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center kicked off The Big Read with that classical music and this month the event will “go out” to the big band sounds of Second Time Around on Fourth Friday at Headquarters Library, April 23 at 7 p.m., Fourth Friday gives us the perfect occasion to hear the music that lifted the hearts and spirits of Americans as they emerged from the days of the Great Depression. Second Time Around, a 14-piece big band, will take us back in time with music from performers such as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman. The band is comprised of musicians from throughout the Sandhills, who truly enjoy sharing the exciting sounds of jazz, pop, rock and swing, which they interpret for contemporary audiences. They have performed throughout our region, including Museum of the Cape Fear, one of our The Big Read partners. Big Bands generally consist of 12 to 25 musicians and include saxophones, trum- pets, trombones, vocalists and a rhythm section. The terms jazz band, jazz ensemble, stage band, jazz orchestra, society band and dance band may be used to describe a spe- cific type of big band. Fourth Friday will be a great time that you will not want to miss; we will even be giving away the very few remaining novels that we have as door prizes. This event is free and refreshments are provided by SYSTEL®. For more information about The Big Read and other library programs and services, visit www.Cumberland.lib.nc.us or find us on Facebook. The Big Read Community Partners are: Cumberland County Schools, Charles W. Chesnutt Library, Fayetteville State University; Davis Memorial Library, Methodist University; Fayetteville Technical Community College; Fort Bragg John L. Throckmorton Library; and Museum of the Cape Fear. The Big Read is sponsored by The Friends of the Library, The Fayetteville Observer, Up & Coming Weekly, The Drive 96.5 FM and KISS 107.7 FM. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) de- signed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in coopera- tion with Arts Midwest. Upcoming Programs • Come join us as we discuss Carson McCullers’ novella “The Ballad of the Sad Cafe” as part of The Big Read. Copies of the novella are available for checkout and you can pick up a copy of the discussion questions at the Information Desk. April 26, 7:30 p.m., Headquarters Library. For more information, call 483-7727 ext. 204. • Learn to surf the internet and find what you’re looking for with search engines. April 27, Headquarters Library, 7 p.m. Registration is required by calling 483-7727 ext. 202. • Friends of the Library Book Sales: Stock up on all your reading needs with books and magazines. Thousands of titles in good condition and unbeatable low prices! Entrance to the book sale is at Headquarters Library through the back door near the benches by the creek. Cash or check only. Members only: May 4, Headquarters Library, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., *Anyone not a mem- ber may join at the sale. Open to the public: May 8, Headquarters Library, 9;30 a.m. – 2 p.m. KELLIE TOMITA Contributing Writer COMMENTS? 484-6200 ext. 222 or editor@upandcomingweekly.com 20 UCW APRIL 21-27, 2010 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM

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