CFH
offers medicine use information for Seniors; Educational booklet
distributed
in cooperation with FDA, AoA
WASHINGTON, April 14 /PRNewswire/ --
As many people age, they are faced with health problems that may need to
be treated with the regular use of medicine. And with the normal body
changes caused by aging, the likelihood of potential problems with
medicines increases for many seniors. With this in mind, the Council on
Family Health (CFH) has updated Medicines and You: A Guide for Older
Adults -- its educational guide for seniors about safe and responsible
medicine use. The revised guide, also available in Spanish, will be
distributed in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Administration on Aging
(AoA).
The new publication will be available
for the first time at the 2004 Joint Conference of The National Council
on the Aging and the American Society on Aging, April 14-17, in San
Francisco, California.
Medicines and You, first published by
CFH in 1991, provides practical information for older adults about the
use of prescription and nonprescription medicines. The educational guide
gives facts about drug interactions, tips for talking to healthcare
professionals, and ways seniors can help lower their medicine costs. The
17-page guide also features "My Medicine Record," a chart on
which seniors can list the medicines they take and other important
health information.
"Medicines and You offers
everyday information that can help older adults manage their medicines
and their overall health," says CFH President Robert G. Donovan.
"It is important for seniors to know as much as possible about
their medicines. Knowledge and good communication between older adults
and their health professionals can help avoid problems with
medicines," he adds.
Donovan urges: "Learn about your
medicines. Read medicine labels and package inserts and follow the
directions. If you have questions, ask your doctor or other healthcare
professionals."
For a free copy of Medicines and You:
A Guide for Older Adults (please specify English or Spanish), write to
-- FDA/MEDYOU, PSC Personal Property Facility, 16071 Industrial Drive,
Gaithersburg, MD 20877; send an email request to dpapubs@cder.fda.gov;
or call AoA's Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116. To view the guide
online, go to www.cfhinfo.org .
The guide also will be distributed
through FDA's and AoA's regional offices nationwide.
The Council on Family Health, a
nonprofit organization established in 1966, is dedicated to educating
consumers about the proper use of nonprescription and prescription
medicines, dietary supplements, home safety, and personal health.