“When seniors visit their doctors, there are a number of different things going on,” Mackowiak said. “They’re worried about symptoms they’re having, or about missing their appointment, or about missing their paratransit ride, and they forget to ask questions about their medications and vitamins. By visiting these centers, we can speak to seniors in a familiar setting, which lets them relax and think of questions they have.”
At a recent education session, Mackowiak spoke to residents at the Philadelphia Senior Center about vitamin and mineral supplements, providing information on how to read labels and decipher confusing acronyms. She also answered questions from residents about vitamins to improve hair health and red blood cell count.
This is the second year that the School of Pharmacy has participated in this program. Last year, Mackowiak held 11 sessions across the city. This year, the number of sessions doubled, and at the request of PCA, the program expanded to include education about cholesterol.
While Mackowiak has been visiting senior centers for only the past two years, the relationship between PCA and the School of Pharmacy extends back to the mid-’80s, when PCA referred seniors to the school to have their medications reviewed. Students and faculty members would check drug interactions and expiration dates, and would alert doctors if they discovered serious problems. This program lasted more than 15 years.
Mackowiak hopes that Temple and PCA will be able to further expand the educational programs that have already helped so many.
“I’d like to continue the relationship we’ve built with PCA. Many of the elderly take a variety of medications, and they’re not sure what each one is for. The program can provide the answers they need to make an informed decision about their medications,” Mackowiak said.
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