Poison Prevention for Older Adults

Originally broadcast June 7, 2007

Speakers:
Gail Banach, MS, IDDE, MS, Ed, BA
Director of Education
Upstate New York Poison Center

Norma A. Barton, BS, CSPI
Certified Specialist in Poison Information
Ruth Lawrence Poison & Drug Info Center

Adults over 60 represented 16% of fatalities reported to poison centers in 2005.

People age 65 and older make up 12% of the population but account for 34 % of all prescription medication use and 30% of all over the counter medication use. Approximately 60% of older adults take their prescriptions improperly and 140,000 die each year as a result.

Goals:

• Increase utilization of Poison Centers by older adults, those care for older adults, or provide services to older adults
• Decrease in the number, cost and severity of poisonings in NYS

Learning Objectives:

• To increase awareness of Poison Centers as a resource for older adults in a poison emergency or for poison prevention information.
• To increase awareness of risk factors for unintentional poisonings.
• To identify specific practices related to the safe use of prescription and over the counter medications including medication management techniques.
• To increase knowledge and practice of poison prevention strategies among
  older adults who care for young children.