The tough choices people have to make
Many people use medications. All ages need them from time to time. A term I see more and more for medications that are taken daily is a maintenance medication. Many people, for various reasons such as for blood pressure, diabetes, etc., take their prescriptions every day.
Last week I had a senior citizen, a widow, ask for help with food. She seemed to be having trouble thinking clearly. The volunteer interviewer was concerned and asked me to visit with her. I asked some pointed questions to see how in touch she was, and others about her situation, as well. It turned out that she was taking particular medications only every other day instead of daily. It was a choice she made to save money but clearly affected her thought processes.
Jackson House was given a small grant to help with situations like these. I arranged for her to get two months of her meds and, since no family was nearby, for a nurse to check on her. Of course, she was also given food. Other agencies were contacted to provide other services, as well. Many people are making tough choices between food, medications and other basic necessities.
As our population ages, it is important to keep watch on your neighbors, making sure they are eating enough, taking their medications, and other needs are being handled. Sometimes contacting family is a good idea as they may not know about any issues. Jackson House tries to help those who come to us in need. If you would like to be a part of the solution to meet those needs, please call 501-6234048 or visit www. jacksonhouse.org. We are “A Place To Care And Be Cared For.”