24 October 2008

Seniors in Western Australia will be able to attend free peer information sessions that aim to help them get to know their medicines as part of Seniors Week, which runs from 26 October to 1 November.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) WA, in partnership with the National Prescribing Service Ltd.(NPS), will run the workshops to help seniors get to know their medicines and reduce the risk of medicine-related problems.

“We know that approximately 140,000 people are hospitalised every year as a result of medicine misadventure and more than half of these cases are preventable.” NPS Community Quality Use of Medicines Manager, Hannah Baird, said.

“Medicines don’t just come on scripts, so it’s important that seniors know information about all of their medicines including prescriptions, over-the-counter, vitamins, traditional medicines and herbal supplements,” she said.

Simple tips like keeping medicines lists and discussing what you are taking with your doctor and pharmacist minimises chances of medicine-related problems.

“Seniors don’t always feel confident discussing their medicines with their GP, and may forget to reveal important information about their health to their doctor,” COTA Seniors Peer Education Manager, Christine Williams, said.

“We find a peer educator approach, where seniors are delivering the sessions to their senior peers, works well because of their shared experiences and concerns,” she said.

Around 70 per cent of Australians are on at least one prescription medicine or non-prescription medicine at any given time; which increases to 90 per cent for people over 65 years.[1]

Another study conducted by the Sansom Institute from the University of South Australia concluded that in 2005 approximately 400,000 Australians aged 70 or over were prescribed at least one drug that is considered potentially harmful to seniors.

COTA has a network of peer educators around Australia who deliver free information sessions which address these and related issues. The sessions are open to anyone over 50 and attract a high level of bookings from clubs, seniors and carers groups. COTA will continue to deliver sessions throughout 2008 and 2009.

For more information on the sessions call (08) 9321 2133 or visit www.cotawa.asn.au.

For more information about medicines visit www.nps.org.au or call NPS Medicines Line 1300 888 763.

ENDS

The National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS) is an independent, non-profit organisation for Quality Use of Medicine funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.