Brothers and Sisters,
The misuse of medication is a serious health problem; especially for retired workers, but potentially for all workers and their families. Al too frequently, drugs are being used by senior who are suffering from poor diet, lack of exercise and social isolation. In many cases, seniors have visited more than one physician, and received more than one prescription to treat various ailments. Not only are unnecessary medications being taken, but certain prescriptions that are taken in conjunction with others can often produce tragic results.
The CAW, in response to the urgency of this situation, has developed a program that has been successfully bargained in some sections of our union. The purpose of the "CAW Medication Awareness Program" is to educate retired members on the proper use of medication. The CAW believes the program is valuable because not only does it give our members the opportunity to learn the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, but it also saves the health care system money. Members are encouraged to become more assertive with their doctors and pharmacists, and are given the opportunity to meet with health care workers in their community.
Our union recognizes the need for workers to enjoy a lengthy and healthy working life and retirement. We believe that this program goes a long way in making it happen.
Yours in solidarity,
Basil "Buzz" Hargrove
President,
Canadian Auto Workers
IS THERE A CRISIS?
The first step in the development of the CAW Medication Awareness Program was recognizing the need. We believe enough data existed to warrant some response, as health care professionals have noted problems with the misuse of medications in recent years. Furthermore, as drug prices escalate, the cost of health care programs go up.
Here are some of the facts:
i. Each year, an estimated 4,000 elderly Canadians die and 200,000 fall ill from the misuse of medications, and subsequent adverse reactions.
ii. Twenty percent of senior could have avoided an emergency hospital visit if their drug therapy had been better managed.
iii. Between 1987 - 1991, pharmaceutical drug costs rose 61%.
iv. Canadian seniors get an average 20 prescriptions filled each year under provincial drug plans. Quebec is highest at 28 prescriptions, and BC is lowest at 12 prescriptions.
It is also important to note that prescription drugs are costly and, for many retirees, and ineffective method of treatment. Retirees need information on proper drug use, potential adverse reactions, the benefits of generic drugs, and ways to talk to their doctor and pharmacist.
THE CAW MEDICATION AWARENESS PROGRAM
Just exactly what is the Medication Awareness program?
There are many facets to the program. It's obvious purpose is to ensure our members become better informed about the medications they are taking, and the alternatives that are available. However, there is much more to this program. There are educational sessions that are provided to retirees about the program, and they are instructed by other CAW retirees.
There are also peer training sessions, information workshops, mail campaigns and a host of other directives all designed to promote a healthier lifestyle.
The program has a target of five specific goals:
I. To workers, retirees, and their families on the proper use of medication;
II. To participants in getting the proper help if they have concerns about their medications;
III. To on the role of diet, fitness, and social and emotional well-being in reducing reliance on medications;
IV. To with community health resources such as public health care workers, doctors and pharmacists. Every effort will be made to work with government and non-profit agencies;
V. To retired workers through the CAW Medication Awareness training program to lead the Medication Awareness workshops.
SAMPLE BARGAINING LANGUAGE
The CAW has successfully bargained the program for Sudbury Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers, CAW Local 598. Full funding was negotiated for the program at Falconbridge. It is our intention to have language regarding the program on the table in negotiations throughout our union.
Some sample language may read as follows:
CAW-CANADA PROPOSAL:
Medication Awareness Program
The Company and the Union recognize the important role that CAW members can play in educating other members on the proper use of medication. The Company agrees to sponsor the CAW Medication Awareness Program which will begin on the effective date of the agreement.
Medication Awareness Program Committee
A Medication Awareness Program Committee will work within the CAW National Office to deliver the Program.
The Committee will have four members: The Company will appoint one person (non-supervisor); the Local union will appoint one active member; the local CAW retirees association will appoint one CAW retiree; and the CAW National Director of Pensions and Benefits will appoint one person. If there is no retired workers association, the Local union will appoint a CAW retiree to the Committee.
Disbursement of Funds
Once funding has been bargained, payments will be made to the CAW Canada Secretary Treasurer and held in an account with the CAW National Office Accounting Department.
The fund will be used for the delivery of the CAW Medication Awareness program at the direction of the Medication Awareness Program Committee. Expenses might include, but are not limited to : training workers to become volunteers through the CAW Canada training program; per diems for volunteer or community resource persons; delivering information (phone services, mail-outs, printing).
PROGRAM ACTIVITIES
Facilitator Training - Retired workers, selected by the CAW Retired Workers, participate in the CAW Medication Awareness Facilitators Training Program, after which they conduct sessions with other members as volunteers.
Information Workshops - The Committee will support volunteers in setting up the CAW workshops: Medication Awareness, How to Talk to Your Doctor, and Taking Charge of Your Health.
Mail Campaign - Members will receive information about the Program and scheduled events.
Safe Medication Card - Participating members will make a card listing all current prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.
Medication Cabinet Clean-Up (Brown-bag days) - Members will be given information on how to dispose of out-dated medications in an environmentally safe manner. These days are normally held in such locations as Union halls, seniors apartment buildings, and community centres.
DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE & VOLUNTEERS
The role of the committee will be to ensure that there is no abuse of the funds and to conduct, at least once a year, a review of the Program. The Committee will have the latitude to make changes in the delivery of the Program where and when necessary.
When the volunteers are unable to provide a service, the Committee will make every effort to use the services of non-profit or government agencies. Volunteers should be conducting ongoing organizing and/or Program promotion(s) in the following areas:
Here's how we go about helping seniors in these various areas:
Local Unions and Retirees Chapters
The volunteer would sit with the local executive board and retirees committee to arrange meeting rooms, bulletin board space, and possible file cabinet space in order to put on the programs. The local unions could help advertise the program in the bargaining units via active members or correspondence. The retirees chapters can be utilized to relay the message to all active retirees.
Seniors Centres
The volunteer will contact the person who runs the seniors centre to explain the program and ask for their help. They can help by allowing the volunteer in setting up an information booth and advertising to the seniors as to the date and time the volunteer will be there. They can also help by having signs made up to advertise the Program and posting them in locations throughout the centre.
The goal at the centres is to inform the seniors, sign up those who are interested in taking the program, and finding out if any of the participants would like to be volunteers themselves.
Seniors Apartment Buildings
In the apartment buildings, the volunteer will set up what we refer to as a "Brown Bag Day". This idea centres on having the seniors in the building bring the volunteer information on all the prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs that they are currently taking (including vitamins). They would bring the information as well as the drugs in a "brown bag" to the meeting, and the volunteer could then fill out a Safe Medication Card for them.
It is also important to ask the seniors to include all medications in their medicine cabinet that they are no longer taking in the brown bag. The volunteer will then give these drugs to a pharmacist to properly dispose of them.
Shopping Malls
The volunteer will contact the mall manager, and arrange to use the facility for two days. A booth would be set up, advertised and staffed for the time it is in operation.
Members and seniors will be encouraged to visit the booth and provide the necessary information related to their household prescription and over-the-counter drug use. They would then be encouraged to attend the workshops in their particular areas.
Seniors Clubs and Meetings
The volunteer will contact the club's Executive to explain the program and arrange a time to make a presentation. All sign-ups could take place at the club, or arrangements could be made to set up another time and place where more information could be given.
MATERIALS
The CAW Medication Awareness Program also provides printed materials for members to read at their leisure. A series of pamphlets on topics such as "Wise Use of Medications", "Medications and Your Doctor" and "Pain Pills" are available.
These materials explain what members should know and look for in all aspects of prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs.
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
The CAW Retired Workers Department invites you to find out more about this program and how it can help you to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
For further information, or to register for the workshop in your particular area, call the toll-free number below and ask for the CAW Retirees Department. If the contact person is not readily available, you can leave a message, and you will be contacted.
Contact the CAW Retired Workers Department at
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