It Still Works - Why Change?

As we get older, certain changes are inevitable; but if you're like a lot of people, change doesn't come easily.

How many people do you know who "proudly or defiantly" announce that they:
1. don't use a computer! -(How sad. They are missing out on sooo much!)
2. never learned how to set up a VCR or TV remote -(OK, Hubby controls the controls.)
3. haven't changed their hairstyle in over 20 years -(my hair does it's own thing!)
4. haven't moved or bought any new furniture in 10 years -(make that 30+ years!)
5. are still driving the same car that they got back in the '80s -(why not? ... if it still runs.)
6. still watch TV reruns from the '80s -(it IS like visiting with "old friends".)

There's really nothing wrong with resisting some change, I guess - but I'm always impressed with people who are at least willing to try new things. It is pretty amazing how many older people are actually using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, GrowingBolder and other social networking sites. But even those who are not afraid of new technology, may not want to leave their "comfort zone"! As a self-proclaimed "Techno-Geezer", I love new gadgets up to a point, but even I have my limits.

I was really happy with my Treo 650 smart phone, until the folks at Sprint stopped supporting it, and I was more or less forced to switch phones AND carriers!

Wish I could have asked my doctor " which phone is right for me... ?"

Why must we have so many different models to choose from? Why do they all have an overwhelming number of bells and whistles I'll never use? Why are new ones being launched every millisecond - or so it seems? If the old phone still works, why change it?

In a recent piece on networkworld.com, Carolyn Duffy Marsan listed 12 terms that should never be used in the workplace. This inspired over 300 comments, and I agree with Toni Bowers that they can be used in the right situation, as long as it doesn’t mean your learning stopped with these terms:

1. Intranet
2. Extranet
3. Web surfing
4. Push technology
5. Application Service Provider (ASP)
6. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
7. Internet Telephony
8. Weblog
9. Thin Client
10. Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs)
11. Long-Distance Call
12. World Wide Web

Hmm... "If it ain't broke..." I still use my trusty Palm PDA along with my BlackBerry, which uses "push technology". I make VOIP calls and surf the Web daily, and I run a web-based ASP business. Obviously I like to "Weblog"... so it looks like I'm still very comfortable with this list of terms. What's wrong with that?

... I'm still willing to learn about new things. How about you?

Read the BOLD Print

The Orlando Sentinel has a "Ticked Off" feature that lets readers gripe about anything that... has them ticked off. And they also include some good news items on the other side for balance. Both points of view make for some quick and interesting reading.

Older Americans are always advised to "read the fine print" before signing anything. Easier said than done! One reader recently wrote in to publicly send a "Thank You" to a pharmacy for printing her prescription labels in a large font. She said she could actually read the directions for a change.

That was an interesting and scary twist, because she's right - it's nearly impossible to read most Rx labels these days. However, it's especially important to be able to read prescription labels, to avoid problems like taking the wrong drug at the wrong time or in the wrong dose.

I have "low vision", also commonly known as ARMD (age-related macular degeneration); and I've never been offered such a service or even knew it was available. Since I consider myself to be "up on all the latest technology", and I hadn't thought to ask for help, you have to wonder if many other patients ever think to request a larger font? Even more disturbing is the thought that pharmacies have this capability but don't routinely offer the service or option to older patients.

This font-size issue brings to mind several other challenges we all face as we age. Phone books have gotten so large in many cities that they are nearly impossible to lift and even harder to read. After 40, most people can't see as well as they used to, and my ophthalmologist assured me that it's not just my vision that is to blame. The phone books really are printed in smaller fonts.

There's always 411-information, but that "comes at a price" and it's hard to justify any extra expenses when a person who must count every penny still comes up short at the end of the month.

It's fairly easy to Google something to find phone numbers online, but not all seniors have access to a computer. For those who do, there's an exciting, ispiring online social network called "GrowingBolder.com".

I'm a GB member and I'd like to say Thanks to the lady for the "GrowingBOLDer" Rx labels idea. I'm phoning my pharmacy right now to make a BOLD move of my own... ! I hope her comment and this blog will inspire others to do the same.

Presto + OnTimeRx = Another Great Combo!

On June 27^th, I blogged about the senior-focused Jitterbug cell phone and described how it could be used very effectively with automated OnTimeRx reminders to improve medication adherence. Turns out, there is another simple senior-focused system that works very well with OnTimeRx.

The Presto system is nothing more than a printer that is connected to an ordinary phone line. It receives email and prints it out at pre-selected times - up to five times daily.

Here’s how one OnTimeRx subscriber/caregiver utilizes this combination for her mother:

Mom lives alone and has never used a computer, nor does she want one. However, she is happy to get twice daily medication reminder calls on her regular home phone. The automated phone reminders were set up and managed by her daughter, who is very determined to help her mom stay independent.

She will do whatever it takes to get the job done, and that's why she bought the Presto machine and service. She utilizes it to provide automated OnTimeRx email reminders as an additional “hard copy backup" for the automated phone calls. (A little extra insurance is always a good idea.)

We all know that interruptions can occur, and if Mom doesn’t take her pills as soon as she hangs up the phone, it’s easy to forget to do it later. The daughter has the Presto machine scheduled to print out emails twice daily about 30 minutes after the phone reminders.

This two-pronged system serves two purposes.

1) The email print out provides an additional reminder – sort of like a snooze for the phone calls.

2) The printout can serve to document that Mom actually took her pills, because she jots down the time when she's done.

This documentation also reassures the daughter that her mother is, in fact, doing what she’s supposed to, when she’s supposed to.

Everyone is less stressed and the desired objective is met – to enable Mom to continue living on her own.

Big Foods - the next Big Tobacco?

Dr. Lundberg posted a provocative video about obesity on Medscape Today in 2004. http://bit.ly/27L3YG He invited viewers to respond. So I wrote a letter that was chosen and published online as "More Serious Letters About Obesity".

I took exception to his comment: “nobody seems to care.[1]” As a healthcare provider myself (a pharmacist), I care very much. The main points in my letter still ring true 5 years later.

1. It's really sad when people in the United States are literally eating themselves to death. And their resulting poor health will surely bankrupt our already sick healthcare system.

2. The movie, Super Size Me, should be required viewing in every school everywhere. It was scarier than any movie that I've seen in years! I've preached “moderation” to my patients for years, but headlines about moderation and common sense are just not sexy enough to create a media frenzy. Nobody makes money selling common sense.

3. Maybe the powers that be will finally take on “Big Foods” like they did with "Big Tobacco".

(Who ever thought that that could really happen, but who knows? Maybe lightning can strike twice!)
I'd love to see the Feds require food processors to cut the Salt content in half on every prepared food product - not just "Killer Snacks"! That alone would be a great start toward a healthier population.

Unfortunately, in most cases, obesity is the obvious "side-effect" of over-eating, which is the cause of Diabetes and many other self-imposed disease states .

In an effort to help people manage their growing array of medications successfully, OnTimeRx will remind these same diabetic, cardiac, and cholesterol-loaded patients to take their pills on time, even while they're supersizing themselves at McDonalds!

Wouldn't it be great if we could give everyone a "virtual headslap" to simply make them eat less?