\
Heinz on aging
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Following
is the column on aging from
senator John Heinz, (R-PA). The
topic this week is “You and Your
Medicines.”’)
Of the problems facing older
Americans today, misuse and
unintentional abuse of prescrip-
tion and nonprescription drug
ranks among the most prevalent
- with often tragic results.
Advances in modern drug ther-
apy have saved countless lives.
Drugs may contribute to
increased longevity and, to some
degree, to an improvement in the
quality of life for millions of
older Americans. Even such
traditionally debilitating diseases
as high blood pressure often can
be controlled with drugs. Yet
tragically, too many older per-
sons suffer needlessly from
improper use and abuse of these
same drugs.
At a recent hearing of the
Senate Special Committee on
Aging, I learned that four major
factors contribute to the problem
of drug misuse.
— Age related changes in the
body decrease an individual's
tolerance of drugs and increase
the likelihood of adverse reac-
tions.
— Older people are more likely
to take several drugs, often
simultaneously and are thus
more likely to experience
adverse side effects and danger-
ous drug interactions.
— Medication often is taken
improperly, either intentionally
or unintentionally.
— Poor communication
between the patient and the
doctor and pharmacists is
another major factor. The con-
cept of a ‘health team,” with
patient and health professional
working together, is not well-
established in practice.
These factors were all too real
in a survey conducted in two
Pennsylvania counties, and
reported to the Special Commit-
tee on Aging. Of the elderly
interviewed, 40 percent reported
an ‘“‘unexpectred or bad” result
from drugs they were taking, yet
these persons had not discussed
the problem with their doctor.
Only 27 percent of the doctors
interviewed in the survey felt
they had sufficient training in
geriatric medicine to recognize
and treat drug effects in their
older patients.
You know your body better
than anyone else, what is normal
and what is unusual. Both your
doctor and your pharmacist
depend on you for information
about your health. Make sure
you have a family doctor and a
pharmacist with whom you feel
medical history, who you use
fairly exclusively for your health
care needs. Above all, don’t be
afraid to ask questions about the
drugs you take. You should get
the answers to these questions
before you begin taking any med-
ication.
— At what times should I take
this drug?
— Should I avoid alcohol or
certain foods while I am taking
this drug?
— Will it cause drowsiness or
dizziness? What other side
effects should I be aware of?
— Can I take this drug with
other drugs (prescription and
nonprescription) I am taking?
— Can this drug be purchased
generically? Do you recommend
generic substitution?
— Will you explain the label
direction to me?
— How long will I take this
drug? Should I have the prescrip-
tion refilled?
Many conditions can be treated
without drugs. Whenever your
physician recommends medica-
tion, have him explain exactly
how the drug will help you and if
there are other alternatives.
The tragedy of drug-induced
sickness among America’s older
population affects us all. Yet is is
a tragedy with a remedy. Your
efforts as an informed consumer
can make a big difference.
Informed and conscientious use
of prescription and nonprescrit-
pion drugs is your best protec-
tion.
Alex Rebar photo
improves cutting.
(DEALER LISTING)
DAN SANTARELLI'S =
PARK AUTO PARTS
20 E. 3rd St., Wyoming, Pa.
693-3131
Wedding set
Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hudak,
Lehman, are pleased to announce
the engagement of their daughter,
Suzanne Jane, to Robert Peter Ris-
mondo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert
Louis Rismondo of Dallas.
Suzanne, a 1979 graduate of Lake-
Lehman High School, received an
Associate Degree in Animal Tech-
nology from Harcum Junior Col-
lege. She is employed by E.R.
Squibb and Sons in New Brunsick,
New Jersey as a chemical lab
technician. g
Robert, a 1976 graduate of Dallas
High School, received an Associate
Degree in Applied Sciences, major-
ing in Criminal Justice, from Luz-
erne County Community College. He
is presently employed by Offset
Paperback Inc.
A July 27 wedding is planned.
Post Classifieds
Sell
675-5211
SINCE 1951
SINCE 1951
ITE
NKBA
By ANN DEVLIN
Staff Correspondent
Many people envision college stu-
dents spending their spring breaks
either vacationing on the sunny
beaches of Florida or relaxing com-
fortably in their homes.
Eleven area college women did
something entirely different over
their spring break, March 9-18, as
they volunteered to work with the
impoverished people of two western
Kentucky communities, Morgan-
town and Elkton.
The group consisted of 10 Miseri-
cordia students and one King’s Col-
lege student. Volunteers from Mis-
ericordia were Jane Miller,
Hanover, Pa.; Diane Danko, Bowie,
Md.; Penny Farrell, Elmhurst, Pa.;
Maria Pallante, Westville, N.J.;
Nancy Naughton, Scranton, Pa.;
Agnes Cesare, Moosic, Pa.; Mau-
reen Ashenbrenner, La Plume, Pa.;
Beth Cummings, Dunmore, Pa.;
Kathy Donovan, Bethesda, Md.; and
Jennifer Flora, Succasunna, N.J. A
King’s College student, Patty Sinex,
of Sugarloaf, Pa., also joined the
group.
Sister Noel of the College Miseri-
cordia Campus Ministry Office
arranged the trip.
Traveling by car, the students left
the Back Mountain area on March 9
and arrived in Kentucky late the
following night, following a stopover
in Coraopolis, Pa., a suburb of
Pittsburgh.
Upon arriving in Kentucky, some
of the students stayed at Holy Trin-
ity Parish in Morgantown, while the
others set up residence at St. Susan
Parish in Elkton.
The students went in pairs to visit
the homes of the poor each day. The
college women also distributed
clothing and food donated by the
local churches.
Kathy Donovan, spokesperson for
the group, describes one poor
woman, Polly, who was especially
thankful for the students’ help.
Polly, who has only one leg, is
unable to get food on a regular
basis. She must rely on the local
nuns for cheese, except when her
son comes to bring her food once in
a while. ‘‘She was very grateful for
the food we brought her,” says
Kathy, “and she was delighted to
see us.”
Also due to the efforts of the
students, a young girl was able to
receive some much needed medical
care. Kathy Donovan and Beth
Cummings drove a fifth-grade girl
to a hospital over two hours away so
she could have treatment done on
her leg muscles. Because of a lack
of transportation, the little girl had
been waiting over six months to
receive medical attention. Now, the
youth has two casts on her legs
from the waist down.
An infant boy received his baby
clothes and basinet from two of the
students, Penny Farrell and Kathy
which were donated from the area
chuch.
One might think these poverty-
stricken people would be very
unhappy and bitter about their
lives. But Kathy describes them as
happy people. ‘“They’re content and
accept the fact that this is how they
live,” she said. ‘‘But, their exist-
ence is enough.”
Kathy feels her group has learned
a lesson that others can benefit
from, also — it’s not what you have
that matters, it’s who you are that
really counts.
“We thought we’d go down there
to help the poor,” says Kathy, “but
they end up helping us. We got a
chance to look at ourselves, re-
evaluate our priorities, and critique
our values.”
Would the students volunteer to go
again? ri
“We'd do it in a second,” Kathy
answers.
Sen. Frank J. O’Connell, R-20 was
the prime sponsor of a bill that was
given immediate attention by Gov-
ernor Thornburgh to move up the
opening hour for Sunday sales of
liquor and beer.
According to O’Connell, alcoholic
beverages can now be sold at 11
a.m. on Sundays instead of the
previous 1 p.m. hour in those estab-
lishment which hold a Sunday sales
permit. The 2 a.m. Monday closing
hour for Sunday sales is unchanged.
“The Governor’s prompt action in
signing Senate Bill 730 could have a
halo effect on the restaurant, sta-
dium and tourism industries,” said
0’Connell. “Restaurants can begin
to serve alcoholic beverages with
their earlier Sunday brunches
immediately.”
The new law also permits liquor
and ber to be sold in bowling alleys
and other recreational areas of
licensed hotels, such as game rooms
and video arcades, where minors
are present but are under ‘‘proper
supervision’ as defined in the
Liquor Code.
Supplementary House amend-
ments included in Senate Bill 730
permit distillers, manufacturers,
retail and club licensees to sponsor
contests or tournaments and adver-
tise, offer, award or permit the
awarding of trophies or prizes for
such contests. Alcoholic beverages
may be served in the same area
where the tournament or contest is
held, and a bar or service bar may
be installed in the lobby, passage-
way or entrance adjacent to the
licensed premises.
Senate Bill 730 also increases the
amount of money that may be spent
on point-of-sale advertising and no
single advertising item may cost
liquor bill «
more than $35. Cooperative ‘adver- ou
tising between distributors and
manufacturers is also clarified.
Further, the Liquor Control Board
is authorized to issue one liquor
license in any third calss city for a
restaurant situated within 1,000 feet
capacity of more than 5,000. The
restaurant and stadium must be on
the same parcel of land not less
than 25 acres in size and with no
intervening public thoroughfare
between the restaurant and the sta-
dium.
Tours offered
This summer, children and adults
are invited to explore the natural
and historic features of Frances
Slocum State Park, Mount Olivet
Road, Wyoming, by participating in
the Park’s weekend interpretive
programs. Every Saturday and
Sunday, beginning on Memorial Day
weekend, visitors to the State Park
will be able to enjoy free guided
walks, craft demonstrations,
interpretive talks, films or slide
programs. _
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at state park
“The Life of the Forest” is the
theme that inspired the programs of
Memorial Day weekend.
Saturday, May 26, 2 p.m. Wig-
wams and Tanneries looks at the
uses of forest products from the
time of the American Indians to the
present.
Sunday, May 27, 2 p.m., Woodland
Wildflowers and Ferns examines gy
the forest’s delicate beauties
through a guided walk.
Monday, May 28, 2 p.m., Forest
Blindfold Walk acquaints visitors
with the sounds, scents and feel of
the woods.
In early June visitors can learn
how to reap ‘‘Nature’s Bounty.”
Saturday, June 2, 2 p.m., Healing
Herbs, a guided walk, focuses on
favorite medicinal wild plants of
American Indians and settlers. 10
a.m. - 4 p.m., Periodic demonstra-
tions of dynog cloth with wild
plants. ¢
Sunday, June 3, 11:30 a.m., Har-
vesting Cattails teaches the edible
parts of the common wetlands
plant. 1:30 p.m., The Wild Gourmet
features a slide program about local
edible wild plants, plus recipes and
samples of wild foods.
Further weekend program themes
for the month of June will include
“Energy,” “Wildlife,” and ‘Fears
and Facts of Nature.”
The location of all programs will
be listed at Frances Slocum State
Park’s Visitors’ Center and Park
Office. Call Frances Slocum State
Park at (717) 696-3525 for more
informaiton about the summer
interpretive programs.
Change requested
Mrs. Alberta Cross, operating as
Cross Mountain View Guest Home,
Inc., RD 1, Box 107, Sweet Valley,
situated on the South side of Route
118, approximately one third of a
mile west of T668, formerly known
as the Scandanavian Motel in Ross
Township.
Mrs. Cross has requested the area
be rezoned from an Agricultural
District (A-1) to an Apartment Resi-
dence District (R-3) to operate a
“Personal Care Boarding Home.”
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