Like most older adults, Slatington resident Suzann Rosenberg, 79, takes several prescription medications. She didn\u2019t question why her doctors prescribed the drugs until a few years ago, when she forgot to renew one of her prescriptions and discovered that she had been experiencing serious side effects.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt turned out to be medication-induced dementia,\u201d said Rosenberg, who was a Marine. \u201cWithin a week of not taking it, the difference in my whole outlook on life was unbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prescription medication complications, caused by both mistake and misuse, are on the rise in Pennsylvania, and are one of the reasons nearly 600 residents aged 55 and older died from an overdose in 2024 \u2014 about 18% of overdoses statewide \u2014 according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.<\/p>\n
While some issues common in older populations such as grief and loneliness can contribute to substance abuse, researchers say factors such as changes in metabolism, chronic physical health conditions and confusion also can lead to dangerous medication mix-ups.<\/p>\n
A new state program to address medication-related problems is being rolled out in four counties with the highest rates of senior drug overdoses, including Lehigh County.<\/p>\n
Funded through the $2 billion opioid settlement fund<\/a>, the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education \u2014 WISE \u2014 takes a holistic approach to education. Using techniques such as role playing, counselors lead seniors through exercises designed to help them recognize and address problems before they get out of hand.<\/p>\n On a recent Thursday morning at the Slatington Senior Community Center, where the program debuted last month, participants were engaged in a lively discussion about diversity, taking turns acting out the parts of people of different ages and cultures reading questions from cue cards.<\/p>\n Some of the activities, including one where the seniors pretended to be announcing their wedding engagement to a much younger relative, caused the group to erupt in laughter.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is very interactive, very exciting, very new each time we have a class,\u201d said Stacy Creyer, the senior center\u2019s manager. \u201cSome of the classes we have here are educational, but can be monotonous. This one, we\u2019re having fun with it. It leads you to want more.\u201d<\/p>\n The six-part course empowers seniors to be more active in their healthcare so that they understand what medications they are taking and why. Learning about diversity can help them have better conversations with healthcare professionals of different ages and cultures, said Anne Milne, health and wellness coordinator at Lehigh County\u2019s Office of Aging and Adult Services, which oversees the program.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt actually walks them through conversations with their doctors, and gives them almost like a script for how to ask questions. It gives them the confidence and awareness that they can take control,\u201d Milne said.<\/p>\n Diane Stettler, 79, takes six medications. She uses a pill organizer to keep them straight, but knows that mistakes can happen. She said she was looking forward to the discussions about medication in upcoming classes.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, you wonder if you took your pills,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Cathy Brown, 72, has been coming to the Slatington Senior Community Center for programs for at least five years, and takes medication for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. While she hasn\u2019t had any problems managing her prescriptions, she thought the program was worthwhile.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something we should think about, especially as we get older,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n