Poison Prevention for Older Adults Originally broadcast June 7,
2007 Gail Banach, MS, IDDE, MS, Ed, BA Director of Education
Upstate New York Poison Center Norma A. Barton, BS, CSPI
Certified Specialist in Poison Information Ruth Lawrence Poison
& Drug Info Center Adults over 60 represented 16% of fatalities
reported to poison centers in 2005. People age 65 and older make
up 12% of the population but account for 34 % of all
prescription medication use and 30% of all over the counter
medication use. Approximately 60% of older adults take their
prescriptions improperly and 140,000 die each year as a result.
- Increase utilization of Poison Centers by older adults, those
care for older adults, or provide services to older adults -
Decrease in the number, cost and severity of poisonings in NYS -
To increase awareness of Poison Centers as a resource for older
adults in a poison emergency or for poison prevention
information. - To increase awareness of risk factors for
unintentional poisonings. - To identify specif