COTA Queensland, in partnership with NPS (www.nps.org.au), an independent, not for profit and evidenced based Australian organisation, provides free information sessions to help older Australians get the best out of their medicines.
NPS funds this as part of a wider initiative to improve decision making about medicines with a focus on older people. Medication is taken by 70% of the population in any two week period increasing to over 90% for older people. In Australia, around 140,000 visits to hospitals each year are medicines related, many due to a lack of information about the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). QUM means selecting management options wisely, choosing suitable medicines, if a medicine is considered necessary and using medicines safely and effectively. Medicines include those available on prescription, medicines available over the counter, many traditional medicines and herbal remedies.
COTA Queensland’s medicines peer education sessions help participants to:
- get the most out of visits to the doctor and pharmacist
- manage prescriptions and over the counter medications
- know where to find important medicines information
- discover ways to help remember your medicines
- learn how to save money on medicines
All sessions are free and take 45-60 minutes. Our Peer Educators are skilled in delivering empowering, fun and interactive sessions. So participants can be assured of a very worthwhile learning experience and will receive useful resources.
Our Medicines and You sessions can also be tailored to suit your group’s particular interests and can include information on either:
- healthy sleep
- chronic pain
- type 2 diabetes
- pain management
To book a session or get further information, please call 1300 738 348 (cost of a local call), fax in a booking form or email bookings@cotaq.org.au
NPS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. To find out more, visit www.nps.org.au