UPMC for Life Dual (HMO SNP) Plan and UPMC Community HealthChoices Plan Caring for Life Newsletter

CARING FOR LIFE • Issue Two • 2021 6 Dementia is more than forgetfulness Learn the warning signs As you age, you’ve probably noticed physical changes with your vision, skin, muscles, and other areas of your body. Just as common are some changes in memory or thinking. That’s normal. Do you have a limited income and find it difficult to afford nutritious food? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may be able to help. SNAP provides eligible, low-income individuals with funds each month to help buy nutritious foods. Having a well-balanced diet is one important way to stay as healthy as possible. SNAP benefits can help you do this! For more information or to apply for SNAP benefits, call the Department of Human Services Helpline at 1-800-692-7462 (TTY: 1-800-451-5886) or your local County Assistance Office. You can also visit compass.state.pa.us to apply. The following are considered common age-related changes: 4 • Occasionally misplacing car keys • Struggling to find a word but remembering it later • Forgetting the name of an acquaintance • Forgetting the most recent events Dementia is different. It involves severe memory loss that impacts daily life. People with dementia may experience problems with these functions: 4 • Memory • Attention • Communication • Reasoning, judgment, and problem solving • Visual perception (beyond typical age-related changes in vision) Here are some signs pointing to dementia: 4 • Getting lost in a familiar neighborhood • Using unusual words to refer to familiar objects • Forgetting the name of close family members or friends • Forgetting old memories • Not being able to complete tasks independently These symptoms may come in varying degrees. If you notice any of them, see your doctor. Early detection can increase your chances of getting help and maintaining a fuller, more independent lifestyle longer. To stay safe with your medications, keep the following tips in mind, courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 1. Find out the name of your medication. Rather than just having your doctor write the prescription for you, ask him or her to say it so you can double-check the name at the pharmacy. 2. Ask questions about how and when to take your medication, possible side effects, and any foods or drugs you should avoid when you’re taking it. 3. Know exactly what condition your medicine is for, and only take it for that condition. 4. Make sure that all of your health care providers know about all of the medicines and supplements you are taking. 5. Keep a list of your medicines with you at all times and give a copy to a family member or caregiver. Medication safety 13 safety tips that could save your life When we take our medications properly, they can do wonders for our health and quality of life. But if we’re not careful, our medications can injure us—or worse. When someone is harmed by a medicine, experts call this an “adverse drug event.” Statistics show that adverse drug events cause more than 700,000 emergency department visits in this country each year. 6. Take only prescription medications that are prescribed to you by your health care professional. 7. Never take larger or more frequent doses of your medicine to get faster or more powerful effects. 8. Never share your prescription drugs. 9. Keep all prescription and over-the-counter medicines in a safe place where only you or a caregiver can reach them. 10. Follow the directions on the label when you take medicines. 11. Turn on the light when you take medications at night to make sure you take the right amount of the right medicine. 12. Keep medicines in their original containers. 13. Dispose of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription drugs.