Sep18Written by:Betty Berry
9/18/2009 12:29 AM 
By Betty Berry
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Q: If my mother forgets to pay her electric bill, is there a way that Edison can let me know so that service is not disconnected?
A: I checked with Edison and was told about its “Friendly Reminder Notification Program.”
Edison customers can ask to have a third party notified if electric service is ever scheduled to be disconnected for past-due bills. A third party can be anyone who agrees to receive notice. The customer can select a friend, relative, clergyman or even a public agency to be that party. The third party never becomes responsible for the payment of the bill.
Because customer account information is confidential, Edison requires both the customer and the third party to sign the authorization form in order to participate.
It sounds like this program might be just what you need. Although you asked specifically about Edison, this program is also available from other utility companies. If you plan to apply for this type of service, it would be advisable to do it for all utilities and not just Edison.
To enroll in each program, call the utility and ask them to send you the application form they use for their particular program.
Q: My dad has many prescriptions he takes daily. I make sure they are kept refilled but I’m not sure he takes them properly. Do you have any suggestions?
A: You are right to be concerned. Taking several medications at different times with different instructions for each can become very confusing. Because health is involved, it is imperative to develop an organized and easy system.
One problem is keeping track of the times that different medications should be taken and another is forgetting whether or not a medication has been taken at all.
A simple check-off chart might be the answer. This chart should have eight columns across the page. The first column should be headed “Name of Drug” and the remaining columns should reflect the days of the week. List the name of each medication and its directions in the drug column, using one line for each prescription.
Under the days of the week, write in the appropriate times that medications should be taken. Each time your dad takes the drug, he should simply cross out the time. At the end of each week, replace the chart with a new one.
If your dad is having trouble reading the labels, you may want to color-code both the chart and the prescription bottles so he can match them up.
Another method, of course, is the pill container. This usually works best if you take only a few pills per day and if it is easy to tell the difference between them.
Any system, however, is beneficial only if it is used carefully. The benefits of creating and following a system will ease your mind and pay off in a healthier loved one.
— Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; or call 495-6260 or e-mail betty@seniorconcerns.org (please include your telephone number).