Check Your Medicines facilitator guide...Toolkit resources PowerPoint Presentation Check Your Medicines PowerPoint, a useful tool to guide you through the session and to remember the

Check Your Medicines Facil i t at or Guide

Check Your Medicines Educat ion Session

The Check Your Medicines Facilitator Guide provides the tools and information you need to deliver a falls prevention education session which focuses on medications. Use the guide to run an interactive and engaging session for either individuals or groups of older adults.

Click here t o download t he facil i t at or guide and all accom panying docum ent s.

Documents include:

- Check Your Medicines facilitator guide- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint presentation- Check Your Medicines quiz- Check Your Medicines event poster- Check Your Medicines preparation and promotion kit- Evaluation forms

Before you start welcome the group by introducing yourself and explaining what you hope participants will get out of attending. At the beginning of your session give participants context by providing them with falls statistics and explain, using the key messages, why checking your medicines is important to help prevent a slip, trip or fall. Try to keep an open dialogue with the group and encourage everyone to share their opinions, actively participate and ask questions.

Check Your Medicines key m essages:

- Sleeping tablets increase your risk of falls. - Know your medicines to reduce your risk of a fall. - Taking multiple medicines can increase your risk of a fall. - Managing your medicines is an important part of staying healthy and independent. - Falls are preventable.

Check Your Medicines Calls To Act ion:

- Speak to your GP or Pharmacist about a medicine review. - Keep track of your medications with an up to date list. - Speak to your GP or Pharmacist if you experience side effects

or are taking sleeping tablets. - Before you start taking a new medicine ask your

Pharmacist to explain the benefits and what side effects to watch out for.

What are m edicat ions and why you should check your m edicines

10 m inut es

Managing and check ing your m edicat ions

10 m inut es

Sum m ar ise and review

10 m inut es

Session plan

Sleeping problem s and m edicat ions

10 m inut es

Bar r iers t o m anaging your m edicat ions

5 m inut es

Toolk it resourcesPowerPoint Present at ion

Check Your Medicines PowerPoint, a useful tool to guide you through the session and to remember the key messages and calls to action. You may also like to print a copy for yourself and participants if you do not have access to a screen.

St ay On Your Feet ® resources

Check Your Medicines Brochure discusses tips for managing your medications.

Move Improve Remove booklet and action plan covers the Stay On Your Feet® key messages and is a great tool for older adults to write down their personal goals.

You can order the above resources for free at www.injurymattersquickmail.com.au. Please allow at least a week for delivery.

Preparat ion and prom ot ion k it

The preparation and promotion kit takes you through the steps of planning and promoting your event.

Evaluat ion Form s

Evaluation forms allow you to measure what participants have gained from attending, what worked well and what can be improved. Your group will also have the opportunity to win a prize if you return your evaluation forms to Injury Matters.

Quiz

Use the quiz after the your presentations to test how much your participants have learned.

Event post er

The event poster is a great way to promote your event, simply complete your event details and add your logo.

Why is it important to move your body?- Act ivity one

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines

PowerPoint slides 1-11 for

introductions

- White board/butchers paper

and pen

St ar t your present at ion by discussing falls prevent ion and why it is im por t ant . Share som e st at ist ics and ask t he group if anyone has had a fal l. (Slides 1-7)

Discuss: "Who can give m e exam ples of what m edicat ions can be?"

Medicines come in a range of sizes, shapes, colours and forms. They can include tablets, capsules, mixtures, ear and eye drops, nasal sprays, creams and ointments, skin patches, suppositories and inhalers.

You can access medicine from many different places, including those that are prescribed by your GP, those bought over the counter and those from supermarkets and health stores. They also include herbal products, vitamins and supplements such as fish oil or calcium.

Discuss: "Why is it im por t ant t o check your m edicat ions?"

It is important to check your medications to ensure you are not experiencing any side effects which would put you at greater risk of having a fall.

All medicines have potential side effects and these side effects may increase the more you take.

Some side effects of medicines can include:

· Drowsiness and confusion

· Dizziness or light headedness

· Unsteadiness

What are m edicat ions and why you should check your m edicines

· Blurred or double vision

· Headaches

· Nausea

(Continued) Discuss: "Why is it im por t ant t o check your m edicat ions?"

Just one side effect can increase your risk of having a fall. When you are experiencing multiple side effects, it can greatly increase your risk of falling.

Older people often have multiple health conditions and so take many forms of medications.

The more medicines taken, the greater the chance of experiencing side effects and the

greater the risk of having a fall.

Medicine is very important for different health issues, however it is important to know what

medicines you take and to be able to manage them, to help improve your health. You should

be aware of the medicines you are taking, so you can recognise any problems or changes that

may occur.

Getting to know your medicines is easy. You can ask your GP or Pharmacist any questions you

might have.

Discuss (and wr it e down on but chers): "What are som e quest ions you

could ask your GP or Pharm acist t o f ind out m ore about your

m edicat ions?"

Questions could include:

- What time of day should I take it?

- Do I need to take it with food?

- Does this medication interact with or effect any other medication I am taking?

- What are side effects should I look out for?

- Is this safe to take this with alcohol?

- What is the safest way for me to stop using sleeping tablets?

What are m edicat ions and why you should check your m edicines

Managing and check ing your m edicat ions

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 12

There are many aspects of taking medication that can increase the risk of experiencing side effects.

As a group, discuss t hese r isks below and share exper iences w it h each ot her .

Use-by-dat es All medicines have a use-by-date and should only be taken before this date. If a medicine is past its use-by-date, it may not work as it is intended to and the side effects of taking the medicine can change, putting you at risk of a fall.

Com bining m edicine

Older adults may have more than one condition or a condition which requires treatment with more than one medication. The medications can react differently than originally intended, causing side effects.

It is important to check with your GP or pharmacist about combining multiple medications.

Shar ing or using ot her 's m edicine

Each medication is prescribed by a GP for a person?s specific needs. People should never share medications or use another person?s prescription. Medications that are not prescribed for a person can result in a serious health risk.

Recom m ended doses

Older adults become more sensitive to the effects of medications over time. Medication may stay in the body longer and the effect may be greater than what is prescribed, especially when individuals have taken the medication over a long period of time. This can result in an increase in side effects which can contribute to a fall.

Managing and check ing your m edicat ions

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 12

Discuss: "How do you m anage your m edicat ions?"

Managing your medications is a great way to keep track of what you are taking so you can avoid or lessen the side effects of medications.

Webst er pack

A Webster Pack is a sealed weekly calendar which contains your medication for a simple way to manage them. They are set up by your pharmacist for a small fee and illustrate what day and time you need to take your medications. The pack has the details of all your medications on them. This also makes them great for traveling.

Medicine Checks and Hom e Medicine Reviews

Have your medications reviewed and checked over by your GP or pharmacist. You can ask about a f ree m edicine check in your pharmacy which will be done by the pharmacist. Once the check has been done, you can speak to your GP about making any changes suggested by your pharmacist.

You can also speak to your GP about a f ree home medicines review, where a consultant pharmacist will visit your home and review your medicines, talk about any concerns you may have and report back to the GP.

Medicine l ist

A medicine list is a useful way for you to keep track of what you are taking. You can get them from your GP, pharmacist or make one up at home. It is a great idea to have multiple copies of the list, keeping one copy with family members, one at home and a copy of your medicine list on you at all t imes in case of an emergency. It is also important to take your medicine list with you to all medical appointments so the health professional knows what you are taking and can treat you accordingly. NPS Medicine Wise has an app which you can set up with a smart phone.

Visit www.nps.org.au for more information.

Sleeping problem s and m edicat ions

Discuss: "Does anyone here use sleeping pil ls?"

As people get older, they may find themselves sleeping less. This is normal. Some people start taking sleeping tablets, however sleeping tablets can cause dizziness, light headedness, confusion and poor concentration, all of which increase a person's risk of having a fall.

There are many benefits of not taking sleeping tablets, including improvement in memory, increased alertness and a reduced risk of falls.

Sleep hygiene is the term used to describe good sleep habits, which people can form to help them get a good night 's sleep. To improve your sleep you should:

- keep active during the day- avoid naps- make your bedroom quiet and comfortable- avoid alcohol and cigarettes- read before bed- keep a sleep diary to see what helps you sleep.

If you are taking sleeping tablets you should talk to your GP or pharmacist about what you can do reduce limit your use. This might include a sleeping tablet reduction plan, sleep hygiene or sleep diary. Always consult with your GP before you stop taking your sleeping tablets.

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 14

Bar r iers t o m anaging your m edicat ions

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 15

- Distribute Stay On Your Feet® Check Your Medicines brochure

Bar r iers Suggest ions t o help overcom e t he bar r ier

Unsure of what medicine you currently take

Speak to your GP and pharmacist. You can contact your local pharmacist for a home medicine check. They will be able to help you understand the medicine you are taking and will explain any side

Unsure of the effects of medications

Speak to your Pharmacist about what side effects your medication may cause. Make sure to go through all medication you are taking, as some might interact with each other.

Not able to recall what medicine you are taking.

Put together a medicine list, with help from your GP or Pharmacist. You will be then be able to place a list in your wallet, handbag or fridge, where it can be easily seen.

Difficulty opening bottles

Ask your Pharmacist to make up a Webster Pack. For a small fee you will be able to push out the capsules, without having to open bottles to access your medications.

Don't remember when you have to take medication

A Webster Pack or a detailed medicine list are great tools for remembering to take medication. It will tell you the day and time, so you will not forget to take it or accidentally take double the dose. You could also try setting an alarm.

Unsure about generic medication

All medication is manufactured in the same way, however sometimes various brands will change the colour or size of their products. Generic medication is made in the same way as branded medication, despite looking different. Talk to your pharmacist if you have any queries.

As a group, brainst orm bar r iers t o check ing your m edicines and ways t hey can be overcom e.

Sum m ar ise and review

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 16-17

- Check Your Medicines brochure

- Evaluation forms

Sum m ary

Re-discuss t he Check Your Medicines key m essages w it h your audience.

The Check Your Medicines key messages are:

- Sleeping tablets increase your risk of falls.

- Know your medicines to reduce your risk of a fall.

- Taking multiple medicines can increase your risk of a fall.

- Managing your medicines is an important part of staying healthy and independent.

- Falls are preventable.

It is a good idea to summarise and review the session and ask the group to have a think about the importance of checking their medications and what they can do to keep up-to-date and reduce their risk of falls.

Hand our the Check Your Medicines brochure to the group, it serves as a great reminder of the topics you have covered during the session.

Sum m ar ise and review

Act ion plan

Using the Move Improve Remove booklet, turn to the last page, where you will find an action plan. Ask the group to write down a few actions they could make to check their medication that they could put into place after attending this presentation. Writing down actions can help provide motivation, a sense of purpose and pride in accomplishment. The actions should be simple and realistic.

Examples could include:

- Check use-by-date of all medications at home.- Take medications in to Pharmacist for a medications review.- Talk to GP about limiting sleeping pill use.

Quiz

A quiz is a great way to test the group's knowledge and see how much information has been absorbed. Depending on time you can ask the group to call the answers out or write them down to review at the end. You can use the accompanying Check Your Medicines quiz or come up with your own.

Review answers and discuss w it h group.

Thank the group for attending and distribute and explain the evaluation forms. Ensure completed evaluation forms are returned to Injury Matters.

Session t ools

- Check Your Medicines PowerPoint slide 18-21

- Move Improve Remove booklet and action plan

- Evaluation forms

Evaluat ing your session

Evaluating your session lets yourself and Injury Matters know how successful the Check Your Medicines education session guide has been. Simply follow the below steps:

1. Complete the Organiser Evaluation Form. As the organiser, you can go in the draw to win a voucher valued at $20 just by letting us know you used education session guide.

2. Print of one copy of the Participant Evaluation Form for each participant to complete. By completing the questionnaire, participants can go in the draw to win a $20 gift card.

3. Return completed forms (both Participant and Organiser Evaluation Forms) by e-mail at [email protected] or by posting to:

Injury Matters

PO Box 208

LEEDERVILLE WA 6903

9

Contact Us

www.st ayonyour feet .com .au

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 1300 30 35 40

St ay On Your Feet WA® is provided by In jury Mat t ers and funded by t he West ern Aust ralian Depar t m ent of Healt h.