Page 2 - Fall Access 2016

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Making sense of your prescriptions continued from page 1
Across the board, most pharmacies offer:
• Automatic refills and reminders by phone, email or text
• Prescription labels in large print
• Easy-open caps upon request
• Printouts of prescription records for home, travel, hospital stay and for tax purposes
In addition, many pharmacies offer services you may not know about but which may benefit you:
Costco - Can automatically fill and ship medications to you upon request.
CVS - Medication flavoring and compounding, a free pill identifier
tool, a drug interaction checker and information center, a medication list for your wallet, and language assistance for non-English speaking customers.
Meijer - Some free medications, like Metformin and generic antibiotics; automatic refills; flu shots and other immunizations; and rewards for prescriptions filled once you sign
up for their rewards program.
Rite-Aid – Prescription coordination for easy “same visit” pick up, a Wellness+ Program for Diabetics, online specialists to answer questions, language assistance for non-English speaking customers, immunizations and blood pressure screenings, wellness points on purchases, and monthly activities on different health topics.
Sav-on/Sav-mor - Have pharmacists on staff with additional training in geriatrics to be able to provide specialized care, an online drug/supplement library, free diabetes education, and language assistance for non-English speaking customers. Some may offer home delivery and free pill blister packaging.
Walgreens - Home delivery, medication compounding and flavoring.
WalMart - Home delivery, $4 prescriptions, blister pack medications for easy daily dosages, and a prescription disposal program.
This list may not cover every pharmacy in your area, but serves as a reminder to ask your pharmacy staff about what services are offered that may benefit you.
Pharmacist Tom Rheaume’s 5 ways to help prevent medication mistakes
1.Know your medication(s) and what they look like. Don’t hesitate to check with your pharmacist if a medication changes color, size or shape upon refill.
2.Know why you’re taking a medication and how it will improve your health.
3.Find out potential medication side effects from your physician or pharmacist.
4.Talk with your pharmacist to fully understand how and when you are to take a medication. A good pharmacist should be accessible whenever you have a question.
5.Ask the pharmacist what you should do if you miss a dose.
Exercising your
voting privileges
continued from page 1
As a registered voter, you may request an absentee ballot if you meet one of the following criteria:
• Age 60 or older
• Scheduled to be out of town on
Election Day
• Unable to vote without help at the polls or because of religious reasons
• Appointed to work as an election worker outside of your precinct of residence
• In jail, awaiting trial or arraignment
You can request an absentee ballot in writing, addressed and submitted to your city or township clerk. To determine who this person is in your area, visit online at www.Michigan.gov/vote.
In your letter, state one of the reasons listed above and sign the letter. If you will require assistance in filling out the absentee ballot, indicate this in your letter and include the signature of the person who will help you. Requests must be received by the clerk no later than 2 p.m. the Saturday before the election.
To qualify for an Emergency Absentee Voter Ballot you must have:
• Become physically disabled
• Experienced a recent death in the family, or illness, that require you to leave the community on Election Day
Know which foods and medications do not mix
Certain foods and medications do not interact well. Always be sure to pay attention to any warnings on your prescription bottle and read any information your doctor may provide to you. Here are a few examples:
• Vitamin K (green leafy vegetables, like broccoli or spinach) can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinners.
• High fiber, like wheat bran, can make heart medications less effective when eaten within a couple of hours of dosing.
• Grapefruit doesn’t interact well with statins.
• Dairy products cause a delay the absorption of antibiotics.
There’s much more to know. To learn more, check out: www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/ archive/101308pe.shtml and always talk with your doctor about what foods you might need to reduce or avoid with medications prescribed to you.
Emergency Absentee Voter Ballot requests must be submitted after
2 p.m. the Saturday before an election and up to 4 p.m. on Election Day. Ballots submitted to the clerk’s office by 8 p.m. on Election Day will be counted. For more information, contact the Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections at 517-373-2540.
If it’s too late for an absentee ballot and you need a lift to the polls, check with your city senior center about who may be sponsoring free or low fare rides to polls. Some cab companies and political parties often offer rides too. Check your local newspaper or news station for updates on available rides to the polls.
Note: Michigan does not require voter identification at the polls, but you will need to present either a Michigan driver’s license or a valid identification card. But even if you forget to bring ID with you, you can still vote; you will just need to sign a brief affidavit explaining why you don’t have photo ID on you.
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