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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Today’s pharmacies are wonderful resources for our growing “seasoned citizen” population. Most have expanded their home health care sections and now carry many items we may find handy as we age, as well as helpful solutions for seniors who are being cared for at home. They are one-stop shops for everything from products to help with mobility, bathing and grooming to medication management.
My top picks include:
- Medication management: Pill reminders and organizers help keep medications organized and remind the person to take their medication. Pill crushers make large pills easier to take.
- Mobility aids: For those with limited mobility, or who are recovering from hip or knee surgery or injuries, look for these innovative products:
- The Juvo Reacher Grabber Tool. This is great for reaching things on the floor or above your head. It has a unique trigger lock that eliminates the need for a constant grip, which is helpful for people who have arthritis. It’s also got a special dressing hook at the tip to help retrieve shoes and socks, and pull them on.
- Travel Seat + Cane. This handy, lightweight item provides people with a stable seat whenever and wherever they need it. It also functions as a walking cane with acomfortable grip handle.
- Jar Opener E-Z Claw. This is helpful for those with arthritis or weakness in the arms and hands. It’s great for opening jars, bottles, doorknobs and containers.
- Vitamins and Supplements: The enormous selection can be confusing! Focus on these:
- Fiber supplements.Products such as Benefiber and Citrucel are helpful for dealing with chronic constipation, which can result from lack of dietary fiber, inactivity, inadequate hydration or be a side effect of medication.
- Food thickeners and ready to eat meals. These can be helpful for someone struggling with swallowing problems (dysphagia), which can be caused by stroke, surgery or other illnesses. Use products such as Ensure and Boost for meal replacement or to complement meals.
- Multivitamins.Ask your pharmacist to recommend a product to meet your needs. Easy-to-swallow capsules, powders and liquids are readily available.
- Pain Relievers: The two primary types are acetaminophen and the NSAIDS, which include Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen) and aspirin. Use these cautiously. Acetaminophen can cause liver damage. NSAIDS and aspirin can cause kidney damage, stomach bleeding and ringing in the ears. Aspirin can interact with blood thi nning medications, and increase the risk of bleeding.
- Safer options for reducing pain and inflammation include using alternating hot and cold packs, topical rubs that contain capsaicin (hot pepper extract) and supplements that contain curcumin or fish oil.
- Cold and Allergy Relief: Many cold and allergy medications can interact with prescription drugs and are not recommended if you have heart disease, glaucoma or prostate disease. Decongestants can raise blood pressure and cause insomnia. Antihistamines can cause drowsiness, impair coordi nation and increase the risk of a fall.
- Get safer congestion relief by using a nasal wash/rinse or running a cool mist vaporizer to add moisture to the air.
Sherry Torkos is an award-winning pharmacist, author and fitness enthusiast. She is a frequent guest on TV and radio talk shows across North America and has authored 16 books and booklets, including Saving Women’s Hearts. www.sherrytorkos.com
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