Dear Heloise: I am writing this in response to the reader who wrote about giving medications to his elderly mother.
I am a pharmacist who works at an independent community pharmacy. We blister- or bubble-pack medications for patients for a very nominal fee.
This consists of placing medications in bubble cards that are marked for each day, time of day and dose (one for a.m., one for p.m., etc.). It makes it less confusing for patients and caregivers. And there is never the question of "Did I take or give that medication?" because if you did, the bubble has had the medicine pushed out for the day and time. Most people do not realize that this service is easily accessed in their community. It really cuts down on medication errors. — Betsy Briley, Huntsville, Ala.
Wow, what a wonderful service! We did some checking here in San Antonio, and we were able to find a pharmacy that offered this service. So, if this is of interest to you, you might have to make several calls until you find a pharmacy that provides this service. The pharmacy that offered the service here also blister-packs pills for nursing homes and said it wouldn't charge extra! Betsy, thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. — Heloise
Dear Heloise:To stop the endless number of catalogs that come to your mailbox, do this: Tear off the back page. Then go to the company's Web site and ask to be removed from the data base. I usually write "In order to save a tree, please remove my name from your data base. Thank you." Then I sign my name and address as they appear on the catalog. My catalogs are down to almost none. You can always shop online. — Nancy Polydys, Scotland, Conn.
Dear Heloise: For paper shredders with a paper wastebasket for the catch bin, I find that placing a paper bag inside the basket makes it simple when full to just pull out, tie and toss in the recycling bin. I find that the larger ones from department stores work best.
My local paper does not carry your column, so I read it on the Internet in The Washington Post. Love it! — Gwen Stuart, Haverhill, Mass.
Dear Heloise: When you get a new cell phone, you can program in a greeting. Well, I put in "If found, call Libby at (my home phone)." I didn't really think I would ever need this, but recently my phone must have fallen out of my purse and I lost it. A good Samaritan found it; I called my phone and she called me, and I got the phone back. If you don't have a home phone, you can list a work number. — Libby Manson, Haiku, Maui, Hawaii
Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to 1-210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com. I can't answer your letters personally but will use the best hints received in my column. © King Features Syndicate Inc.