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by BETH MCADAM Beth McAdam re- cently attended the Community Gerontol- ogy Program present- ed by Confederation College. The Program sponsored a workshop on Medication and the Older Adult held on May 5 in Sibley Hall. Mrs. McAdam recent- ly reported on the workshop. to. the Chimo Club. "'The Ontario Ad- visory Council on Sen- ior Citizens prepared this program to stimu- late discussion regarding medication and the Older Adult. Scientific advances have produced many aids to help people alleviate temporary or chronic -- discomforts, provide cures in some instances and help in- dividuals to adjust or return to normal life. As with every advan- ce there is the possi- bility of some misuse or abuse. The Senior adult of the 1980's has lived through the greatest number of social, eco- nomic, technological changes and scienti- fic breakthroughs in the history of the world. Seniors of to- day are the surviv- ors. Technological changes in such areas as transportation are most incredible. We've progressed from the horse and buggy to the airplane and beyond. One dis- advantage is that we walk less and have become a less physi- cally 'active society. We have moved from the "over the fence" and "town hall' ga- therings, to the radio, the television and sa- tellites that bring us news almost as_ it happens from. all parts of the world. Older adults re- member the 'hard days' of the depres- sion and the pride there was in "stand- ing on your own feet." We moved into the "affluent" so- ciety and into new areas of attitudes of "rights" and "the world owes me a liv- ing." Due to their backgrounds some seniors are probably better equipped and prepared to cope with today's changes - such as recession and times of transition. , Scientifically there have also been many changes, some of these changes have improved our life- styles, such as the world of. medicine, but have also created some new problems. For those people in our older population who have several chronic illnesses, multiple medications may be prescribed to alleviate the sympt- oms caused by these diseases and this is where the problem often begins. A Terrace Bay-Schreiber News, Wednesday, June 1, 1983, page 5 Medication and the older adult society which has wit- nessed the virtual eradication of serious infectious diseases by the use of what we call "miracle drugs" would look to medica- tion that will cure chronic illness. How- ever, chronic illnesses caused by life-style related problems, such as obesity, ex- cessive use of alco- hol, smoking, expo- sure to chemicals, pollutants and exces- sive stress, do not necessarily respond to medication the same way as in the case of an infectious disease. A change of lifestyle should be investigat- ed for positive re- sults. The use of medica- tions in the case of chronic illness diag- nosed in some older adults may have side- effects. Multiple medications may be prescribed which themselves may create symptoms re- quiring further medi- cation. Adverse drug reactions are increas- ed with the overuse of sedatives, sleeping pills and tranquilliz- ers, such as rashes, nausea, weakness and confusion. It was quoted that "'The young and old both have a drug problem. They just take different drugs and have different pushers."' Panel members were Mrs. Connie Oja for the Intergroup Council, Paul Lucas Pharmacist, Dr. R.L. Hutchinson M.D., V.O.N. L. Nalezyty on Nursing Linda Aho Gerontology worker Student Confedera- tion College of Ap- plied Arts and Tech- nology. Lucas spoke on problems in the tak- ing of drugs. Old medication - once the Dr. takes you off a drug destroy any you have left preferably by flushing it down the toilet. A drug is beyond usefulness once the date has expired. Do not store drugs on window sills or in the bathroom. High humidity causes a breakdown of the medication. Keep the drugs in a cool dry place and out of the reach of children. Keep your drugs in their separate vials. When you visit your doctor take all your drugs with you, and write down any questions you may want to ask him. If you are travel- ling out of the coun- try, carry a list of medications and the kind of use. Never increase, or decrease the dosage of your medication. See the doctor first. If one's memory is poor, mark on the cal- endar or use a pill reminder box with one day's supply. Many place their daily pills in envelopes for a week's supply. Don't make changes if you have side effects from your drugs. Contact your doctor or speak to your pharmacist. Many times we have problems because while we are taking prescriptions we are also taking over the _counter drugs and this can cause drug _interaction. Do not take aspi- rins if you are taking blood thinners. Stick to one pharmacist he -has the basis of your medication profile, and in this way you will not run into prob- lems as he can refer to your drugs. Should you take over the counter drugs, he can tell you if it will interfere with your prescribed drugs. Mrs. Nalezyty the VON worker spoke on the nursing in the home and the misuse of drugs, especially those recommended by family or friends. The patient in their home must have a good knowledge of what drugs 'they take because many suffer from forgetfulness or confusion. The im- proper use of drugs cause many prob- lems. Their hearing is poor. They don't un- derstand, and confu- sion is their problem. Dexterity is another problem. Not being able to open. their medication bottles or vials. Speak to your pharmacist - he will make it easier for you to be able to open your container. If you are out somewhere and you realize you forgot: your pills - at home, don't ever take one offered you by a friend who may be one with a_- similar heart pill. If your friend says what's good for me should be good for you - it is not the case. Our body chemistry varies from person to person. Many patients purge themselves with Tums and antacids, containing alcohol and caffeine which interfere with pres- cribed drugs. Inform one's family of the drugs you are_ tak- ing. Keep a vial of information of drugs and any particular ail- ment so that if an am- bulance is called they can take this with them. A suggested place to keep this vial is in the fridge door and the driver can easily obtain it. A patient must be truthful with his doc- tor. The doctor makes his diagnosis on what you tell him. Be truth- ful - tell all. There's a responsibility of the doctor to the patient and of the patient to the doctor. Loneliness is a big factor among the el- derly. Encourage them to get involv- ed with activities such as are offered in senior citizen cen- tres. Many become addicted to drugs or alcohol through lone- liness. Visit the el- derly in their homes or take them out for a drive or even a walk down the street. A film called Wise Use of Drugs was shown and a good deal of information was derived from it. The people assem- bled broke into groups and discussed what they had seen. Do not hoard your pills. Take them as prescribed and until they are all used, even if you feel better after the first one or two. If any group would like to obtain' the above mentioned film it can be ordered through Joan Gale, Addiction Research Foundation, Lillie St. Thunder Bay Ont. Danny O'Keefe - next stop nationals by MARYLYN TURCOTTE The 1982-83 Gym- nastics season has been one packed with hard work and continuing success for Danny O'Keefe and his coach Betty Tate. Danny completed his 1982 season by placing fifth overall at the Pro- vincial competition, held at York University last May. He then spent the largest part of his sum- mer holidays attending a gymnastics camp near Temagami Ontario. At the beginning of . the 1982-83 season, Danny moved out of pro- vincial stream compe- In 1945 when a grain elevator exploded in what was then Fort Wil- liam, the last paragraph in the Chronicle story said, "Members of the St. John Ambulance Bri- gade, with stretchers and other first aid equip- ment were early at the elevator and were able to assist authorities in giving treatment to the injured."' In 1951, a bus and train collided at Conis- ton, near Sudbury. This time it was first aiders trained by St. John in INCO's Copper Cliff plant who were first on tition and into national stream. He competes now in the "Tyro National" category. This includes all of the boys aged thirteen and fourteen years who com- pete at the national level. - Last August Danny and Betty attended a two week long training session held at the Ca- nada Games training camp. In September he com- peted in a Canada Games selection meet held in Hamilton. The meet was for boys aged nineteen years and younger. Danny placed eleventh overall. Then in December on the scene. Seven people were dead, and 20 injur- ed, some of them seriously. The men worked in temperatures of 40 below, applying first aid and protecting the victims against shock until they could be taken several miles to the nearest hospitals. The Sudbury Brigade unit was then asked to help maintain a_ blood grouping clinic for the victims. When a major emer- gency strikes, the Bri- gade is there, assist- ing authorities, the pro-' The Lake Superior high school Soccer Team lost the NSSWAA Soccer Championship in the final game to Marathon with a 3-0 score. The game was part of the NSSWAA Tournament held in Terrace Bay. Marathon to Toronto for a compe- tition in which Danny placed fifth. ; In April 1983, Danny and the other members of the Terrace Bay Tum- blers competitive team, Andrew Bonnema, Krysta Ditchfield, Tanya Ditchfield, Sandra Mc- Dougall and Lisa Hein- rich competed in the gymnastics meet held here in Terrace Bay. All . of the members of the team performed well and are a credit to their club and their commun- ity. In April as well Danny attended a two day com- petition held in Missis- sauga. This was a pro- - ~vincial meet for nation- fessionals, the fire fighters, ambulance at- tendants, police. They're part of the re- sponse team, these vol- unteers who are secre- taries, assembly line workers, truck drivers, housewives. St. John Ambulance Brigade phone numbers are on the list in emergency plans all over Ontario. What they bring to a crisis are first aid skills, compassion, sometimes considerable courage, and a willingness to do what needs to be done, even when that is sad or al stream gymnasts which qualified the top six competitors of each category for the Cana- dian National competit- ion. This will be held in Banff in June. Danny's results were fabulous. He placed fourth both days of com- petition. He is now one of the six "'Tyro National" boys who will be repre- senting Ontario at the National competition. Congratulations Danny and Betty. Your hard work and dedica- tion are certainly bring- ing you great rewards. We are all very proud of you. Good luck in Banff. St. John Ambulance - 100 years boring or grisly. St. John Ambulance is celebrating its 100th an- niversary in Canada in 1983. It was organized in its modern form in Eng- land in the 1870's when humanitarians started the ambulance move- ment to take newly or- ganized first aid skills into England's mines and mills, and into ser- vice to the general pub- lic. The work of the volunteer Brigade dur- ing crises may be the proudest part of the or- ganization's long _his- tory. subsequently went on to play Hammarskjold High School and lost 5-0. Coaches Bill McDougall and John Vandergraaf said that they were "'exceptionally pleased with the teams performance this year."'