Message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)

National Senior Safety Week – Drug Safety for Seniors

November 6-12, 2012

Every year, National Senior Safety Week highlights how seniors in Canada can lead safe and healthy lives. Since medications play an important role in helping seniors improve or maintain their health, this year's theme Drug Safety for Seniors is particularly important.

We're proud to say that Canada has one of the best drug regulatory systems in the world. Every drug product sold in Canada goes through a rigourous review process before Health Canada allows it to be sold on the Canadian market. We also carefully monitor products once they are on the market for signs of potential new risks related to their use and take appropriate actions to lessen those risks.

Using drugs safely can be challenging for many seniors, especially if they take more than one medication at a time. In addition, the aging body is more sensitive to the effects of many medications. Taking a combination of medications can have various effects on a person, such as memory loss, sleepiness, agitation and confusion. These effects have also been associated with falls and other injuries.

To help seniors learn more about medication safety, the federal government has put together the following information:

• Safe Use of Medicines offers excellent advice for seniors on how to minimize risk and maximize safety when taking medication.
• The Safe Living Guide includes a checklist and information on medication safety for seniors. 
• The Report on Seniors' Falls in Canada, 2005 discusses the link between medication use and falls. 
• Seniors and Prescription Drug Use provides provincial data on drug spending and use, and lists the top five drugs that are potentially inappropriate for seniors.

We encourage all seniors to talk to their health care providers about the health products they are using - including prescription medications and over-the-counter health products. This is an important first step everyone should follow.

National Senior Safety Week is an opportunity to recognize the importance of drug safety and the many resources available to help keep seniors safe. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting the well-being and ongoing needs of seniors. As part of leading a safe and healthy life, we encourage all seniors to stay active, engaged and informed.   

For more information on the Government of Canada's programs and services for seniors, please visit Seniors Canada.

Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada

The Honourable Alice Wong, P.C., M.P
Minister of State (Seniors)