Valerie, you are so right.

I have a personal story about labels. I'm just coming out a nasty bout with
the flu, and two of my medications were in the same kind of bottle, and I
hadn't noticed because I was so sick, sleeping about 16-hour days. In
addition, I can't read anything without my glasses. I took too much of the
new medication because the info that came with the medication said one thing
and the label said another. I didn't read the label -- my fault --  just the
flyer, and later, when I couldn't wake up, realized my mistake.

I ended up writing a big "N" (for nausea) on top of the new med bottle so I
could easily distinguish it from the other look-a-like bottle to ensure I
didn't take the sleep-inducing med when I meant to take my pain killer.

And I'm an educated, health literacy conscious senior (dang it).

Kristina

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kristina Anderson
EasyRead Copywriting, LLC
Office: 505-345-3258
Cell: 505-715-1070




> From: Valerie Lewis <vlewis at suffolk.lib.ny.us>

> Reply-To: The Health and Literacy Discussion List <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 10:28:07 -0500

> To: 'The Health and Literacy Discussion List' <healthliteracy at nifl.gov>

> Subject: [HealthLiteracy 1827] FW: AFB Senior Site Tip: Talking to Your

> Pharmacist

> 

> Friends, 

> 

> The below email highlights an example of some of the issues I have discussed

> in the past. While this listserv's primary focus is health literacy.....I

> believe that literacy has far more meaning than whether a person can

> understand the words and meaning. In addition to that notion, if a person

> does have difficulty with the comprehension factor, they/everyone can have a

> sensory disability that adds to the frustration and access to good health

> care. 

> 

> Valerie

> 

> 

> "Let the shameful walls of exclusion finally come tumbling

> down"

> 

> Preamble to the Americans with Disabilities Act 

> George Bush, 1990

> 

> 

> Valerie Lewis, Director

> Long Island Talking Book Library

> Administrator of Outreach Services

> Suffolk Cooperative Library System

> P.O. Box 9000

> Bellport, NY 11713-9000

> Phone: (631)286-1600, X1365

> FAX:   (631)286-1647

> vlewis at suffolk.lib.ny.us

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> 

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Carl R. Augusto - President and CEO [mailto:carlraugusto at afb.net]

> Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 10:06 AM

> To: AFB Subscriber

> Subject: AFB Senior Site Tip: Talking to Your Pharmacist

> 

> 

> AFB  American Foundation

> for the Blind <http://www.afb.org>   TM   

> 

> 

> Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss    

> 

> Vital Information to Share with Your Pharmacist

> 

> Woman talking to her pharmacist about the label on her prescription

> medication. <http://www.afb.org>

> For individuals with vision loss, not being able to read the

> information on prescription medications is a particularly dangerous problem.

> Currently there are no federal guidelines for pharmacists to follow in

> making prescription labels accessible. To bridge this gap, the American

> Foundation for the Blind and the American Society of Consulting Pharmacists

> Foundation, have taken the lead to develop a set of guidelines for you to

> share with your local pharmacist.

> 

> 

> * Use the largest font size the label will allow.

> 

> * Use sans serif, standard font, such as Ariel or Verdana. Do not use

> ALL CAPS.

> 

> * Use bold typeface. Do not use italic, oblique, or condensed type.

> 

> * Use non-gloss paper and label stock. Do not cover label with tape.

> 

> * When affixing labels to a manufacturer-supplied bottle, do not cover

> medication name and strength on the original label.

> 

> * If the pharmacy offers prescription label information in large

> print, this should be prominently posted at the prescription counter or

> communicated directly to each patient.

> 

> 

> 

> A more comprehensive list

> <http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=329&DocumentID=3981>  of

> suggestions can be found on AFB.org. You can learn more about AFB's

> RXLabelEnable Campaign

> <http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=3&TopicID=329> , go here to share

> your stories and sign up for regular updates on this issue. While on

> AFB.org, please take a moment to update your profile on My AFB

> <http://www.afb.org/myAFB2.asp?mode=seniorsite> .

> 

> For more helpful information, please visit AFB.org <http://www.afb.org>

> 

> You can unsubscribe at any time. To remove your name from this mailing list,

> or to find out what other newsletters are available from AFB, visit

> http://www.afb.org/myAFBNewsletter.asp.

> 

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Health and Literacy mailing list

> HealthLiteracy at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please go to

> http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/healthliteracy

> Email delivered to kristina at easyreadcopywriting.com