A New Video Released by PSSS on October 12, 2005

Let's Talk: Older Adults, Medications and Alcohol is a video created by Partners Seeking Solutions with Seniors, with the support of Public Health Agency of Canada, using our own members and partners as actors. The goal of this video is to encourage older adults, caregivers, families and professionals to start talking about the issue of substance use.

The video features typical problem situations commonly faced by seniors using medication and/or alcohol. There are vignettes pointing to the hazards of driving while medicated, the dangers of medication sharing, and the compound effects of taking medicines with alcohol.

The video is intended to get people talking. “So often, people don’t talk about what’s going on”, says Jill Overwater, co-chair of Partners, “and so the video is an ice-breaker, to open up a conversation.”

Video Launched October 12, 2005

After months of dedicated work, the video was lauched with a bang on October 12, 2005 in Winnipeg. With almost 100 guests, great media coverage, and ongoing interest in the video since this date, we can't forget how important it is to start talking about seniors and substance use!

• To view the launch article, click here.
• To see the launch photos, click here.
• To link to CBC news coverage of the video, click here.

The video is organized into a number of different segments:

• Opening Remarks
  
• The Doctor’s Office: Drug Interactions
• Friends: Sharing Medication
• The Problem: Alcohol Abuse
• Mix Up: Taking Medication with Alcohol
• The Driver: Driving and Medication
  (requires Windows Media Player or compatible video player).

The video is available free of charge for your community group or organization in either DVD or VHS.

The Video Facilation Guide includes workshop suggestions, resources for facilitators, participant hand-outs and workshop evaluation materials. Click on the link below to access this PDF file (requires Acrobat Reader).

Click Here to Download the complete Video Facilitation Guide

In addition to the complete Video Facilitation Guide, we have also prepared a series of presentation "idea sheets" and hand-outs for each of the video vignettes. These abbreviated materials will provide a great kick-start for your presentation. (Remember, you can always go back to the complete Video Facilitation Guide for more information.)

All files are in PDF version (requires Acrobat Reader to view). Click here for Acrobat Reader (free download).

The Doctor's Office - Drug Interactions (presentation idea sheet)

Your Medications - Questions to Ask (hand-out)

Questions to Ask - With Blanks (hand-out)

Medication Record - With Blanks (hand-out)

Friends - Sharing Medication (presentation idea sheet)

Strategies for Safe Medication Use (hand-out)

The Problem - Alcohol Abuse (presentation idea sheet)

Alcohol and Older Adults (hand-out)

The Mix-Up - Taking Medication with Alcohol (presentation idea sheet)

Aging - Drug - Alcohol Interactions (hand-out)

The Driver - Driving and Medication (presentation idea sheet)

Driving, Drugs and Alcohol (hand-out)