CAREMATTERS GUIDE: MEDICATIONS AND THE OLDER ADULT" FREE TO PUBLIC FROM METLIFE MATURE MARKET INSTITUTE

The MetLife Mature Market Institute, in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving, is making a series of CareMatters" guides available free to the public. The first, Medications and the Older Adult," contains information to help caregivers understand the benefits and risks of multiple over the counter, herbal, and prescription medications that are used to manage chronic conditions in the older population.

The MetLife Mature Market Institute, in cooperation with the National Alliance for Caregiving, is making a series of CareMatters" guides available free to the public. The series is designed to provide caregivers with information, practical suggestions and useful tools on a variety of care-related subjects.

The first, Medications and the Older Adult," contains information to help caregivers understand the benefits and risks of multiple over the counter, herbal, and prescription medications that are used to manage chronic conditions in the older population. It also offers cost-saving advice and a list of resources for older adults and those who care for them. The guide, which draws on the experience of MetLifes Nurse Care Managers, will be sent with a medication record chart and a pillbox set-up chart to help older adults and their caregivers keep track of multiple medications.

Older Americans, who consume at least 30% of all prescription medications, are hospitalized six times more often than the general population due to drug interactions," said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., Director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

An older person often has more than one physician, so its important for the primary care physician to coordinate a medication regimen. The physician or a pharmacist can help monitor for side effects or interactions." said Timmermann.

The guide provides tips, including the following:
·   Ask if a generic substitute may be used for a brand name drug
·   Adhere to instructions regarding dosage and time at which medication should be taken
·   Ask how long medication should be taken
·   Ask about potential side effects and allergic reactions
·   Ask about food/drink interactions
·   Ask the pharmacist for easy-open bottles, but keep them out of the reach of children

Older adults are also advised to seek out the many cost-saving options available to them like senior discounts, discount cards, large quantity prescriptions, mail order and programs available from organizations related to diseases like Parkinsons, MS or Alzheimers.

The MetLife Mature Market Institute is the companys focal point and resource center for issues concerning aging, retirement, long-term care and the mature market. The Institute, staffed by gerontologists, provides training and education, consultation and information to support MetLife, its corporate customers and business partners.

MetLife Nurse Care Managers are available to MetLifes long-term care customers and their caregivers, on a daily basis, to help identify and resolve caregiving questions and concerns through counseling and referral.

The National Alliance for Caregiving is a non-profit coalition of 38 national organizations that focus on issues of family caregiving.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately 10 million individual households in the U.S. and companies and institutions with 33 million employees and members. MetLife also has international insurance operations in 13 countries. For more information about MetLife, please visit the company's web site at www.metlife.com.

For a free copy of MetLifes Medications and the Older Adult," please write to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, 57 Greens Farms Road, Westport, CT 06880, call (203) 221-6580 or e-mail: MatureMarketInstitute@metlife.com

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