MUST for Seniors

LIFESCAPE COMMUNITY SERVICES EDUCATES OLDER ADULTS; 

 CAREGIVERS ON SAFE MEDICATION USE

Lifescape Community Services is holding free workshops to teach older adults, their families and caregivers about safe medicine use and encourage patients to routinely review and discuss medicines with their healthcare providers.  This program is part of a national initiative called Medication Use Safety Training for Seniors or MUST for Seniors.  The program is administered by Lifescape and made possible by a grant from the Northwest Illinois Area Agency on Aging. 

This program is important because older adults make up 13 percent of the population, but account for 34 percent of all prescription medication use and 30 percent of all over-the-counter (OTC) drug use. Most older adults live with at least one chronic condition, take multiple medications, have more than one prescribing health care provider and use at least one pharmacy.  This kind of information is important for you to know.  

Age-related changes -- such as memory impairments, vision or hearing loss and the way drugs work in the body -- decisions to limit medication use due to bothersome side effects or cost, as well as apparent gaps in communication about medications between older adults and their healthcare providers have been shown to contribute to improper medication use, and set the stage for potentially dangerous health consequences.

“This program is a new outreach for Lifescape,” says Health and Wellness Coordinator Susan Smith.  “We’re looking forward to distributing this important information to local residents.”

If you would like more information about MUST for Seniors, contact Susan Smith at Lifescape Community Services at 815.963.1609 or toll-free at 1.800.779.1189.

MUST workshop schedule: