Operation Medicine Cabinet

Home Instead Senior Care’s Operation Medicine Cabinet Will Help Protect Local Seniors by Disposing of Old Meds

The New Zealand office’s of Home Instead Senior Care is coordinating Operation Medicine Cabinet TM to help seniors dispose of expired or no longer used medications.  

Did you know that each year more than 1000 children are hositalised due to poisoning?

Medicines need to be disposed of safely and effectively to reduce the possibility of unintentional poisonings. The removal of surplus medicines from homes also aims to reduce inappropriate self-medication. Seniors and their family members are particularly vulnerable due to the high number of different medications prescribed.

“This program is a way to help protect seniors from accidentally using expired medications as well as safeguarding them from the potential for theft of medications from their homes,” said Neil Farnworth of the Home Instead Senior Care, NZ Office.  “The project also can help protect the environment including pets and other animals by providing a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs before they are introduced into landfills or the water supply.”

The average senior takes four to six different prescriptions a day and refills their prescriptions 12 to 17 times a year, according to the health-care company Arcadia Healthcare.  Furthermore, 28 percent of geriatric hospitalisations are attributed to adverse reactions, the group said.

The campaign will run throughout July and August, with pamphlets being distributed within Home Instead networks, health professionals and participating pharmacies.

Seniors are encouraged to visit their local pharmacy and put expired medicines in the bins provided. The key messages being provided include:

• Don’t flush your unused medicines down the toilet

• Check medicines for use by date

• Don’t throw your medicines in the rubbish

• Don’t use your medicine for conditions other than that it is prescribed for

• Don’t give your medicines to anyone else to use

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