Free Fact Sheets in Spanish Help Seniors Take Medicines Safely

For Immediate Release
September 13, 2005

Contact: Brandon Alvarez Montgomery
301-565-0770 Ext. 247

People age 65 and older take more prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines than any other age group. This same group also has the most victims of health care fraud. The reason for both statistics is the same. Older people tend to have more long-term chronic illnesses such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. And, because living with a chronic illness can be difficult, seniors may be more vulnerable to the fantastic claims made by those who sell unproven remedies.

Many older Americans owe their health in part to new and improved medicines, but using them may be riskier for older adults, especially when several medicines are used at one time. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is offering helpful information in Spanish about how to take medicines safely and how to recognize and protect yourself from health scams. The fact sheets provide hints to help you avoid risks and get the best results from your medicines. They also tell you how to spot the false claims of those who sell unreliable remedies that promise a quick or painless cure. This science-based information is useful for seniors and their families.

Call 1-800-222-2225 for free copies of Medicamentos Úselos con Cuidado and Curanderos: Cómo reconocer estafas en cuestiones de salud . The NIA Information Center is open weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An information specialist will be available to respond to calls in Spanish. These and other Spanish publications on healthy aging also are available on the NIA Web site at www.niapublications.org .

The NIA, part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the special needs of older people. The Institute is committed to making health information available to older Hispanic Americans and their families.