for release August 30, 2002
The Sandwich Generation . . . Helping Your Aging Parents
by Carol Abaya, M.A.
Are you juggling doing errands for your aging parents, your children, yourself and working at the same time? Are you tired, stressed out and upset that your once vibrant parent is now frail and needy?
Do you feel alone? Rest assured you are not alone! The Sandwich Generation is dedicated to the 50 million Americans who may have elder/parent care concerns and/or responsibilities.
Alternatives To Drug-Induced Organ Damage
1st of 2 Parts
Question: My doctor says I (78) should be taking prescription medicine to control my cholesterol. I'm wary.
Question: My aunt, 68, has been receiving chemotherapy and seems to be sicker than ever. Is chemo really necessary?
Question: My allergies have gotten much worse as I've aged (now 74) and moved. All the medicines have warnings about bad side effects. What should I do?
Answer: As my regular readers know (1) I am not a fan of many prescription drugs because of bad side effects, and (2) I am not a doctor.
However, there are many alternative therapies that seem to work well without negative impact on one's liver, kidneys and other key organs.
Some of these alternatives help make traditional medicines more effective with lesser side effects. This reportedly is the case with chemo.
It's not easy to know what to do. But you certainly should research alternatives.
A very interesting organization that tracks non-conventional treatments is the Life Extension Foundation. Contact: web site: www.lef.org or 1-800-544-4440.
READER'S REACTION: Earlier this year I did a column on the negative side effects of medicine taken by readers who are in their 80s. In one case, the woman (who had been very active) became very confused from the drugs.
My answer then was that the woman should discontinue the medicine and not worry about the high cholesterol - that the woman should be able to enjoy life at this stage of the game.
I received a number of angry e-mails, saying people, regardless of age, should be concerned about cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Let me make myself clear. If a drug creates new health and/or lifestyle problems, it should not be taken! There are alternatives!
In the case of the 85-year-old woman noted in the column, the negative
impact is not worth taking the medicine. She can modify eating habits,
get more exercise and do
much better.
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Question: My mother, 71, takes a number of different medicines - for high blood pressure and cholesterol, among others. She has limited income and trouble paying for all these medicines. She's not Medicaid eligible. Is there any other help?
Answer: Yes! Several drug companies including Pfizer, Novartis and Glaxo Smith-Kline have discount card programs for seniors with low income.
Under Pfizer's program, those with less than $18,000 gross income are eligible for the discount card, for a flat fee of $15 for each 30 day supply of the drug.
Contact the drug companies directly or ask for help from your local pharmacist. Also information is available at 800-762-4636.
Georgetown University's Institute for Health Care Research and Policy has a health insurance information web site: www.healthinsuranceinfo.net.
Also, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America has a web site: www.phrma.org. Or you can call for a complete list of participating drug companies at 202-835-3400. Another site: www.needymeds.com.
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Do you have a question? Send it in. Although letters cannot be answered individually, appropriate letters will be answered in this column whenever possible. Letters may be edited. Send letters to Ms. Carol Abaya, c/o Name\Address of YOUR newspaper (or mail direct to her at PO Box 132,Wickatunk, NJ 07765-0132) or contact her through her web site: thesandwichgeneration.com.
Carol Abaya is an international-award-winning journalist and creator of the unique magazine The Sandwich Generation: You & Your Aging Parents.
NOTES TO EDITORS: text = 485 words; other material = 160 words
We would appreciate it if you would include the "Globe Syndicate" bug at the end of the column.
©2002 by Globe Syndicate, all rights reserved.