PCLS Senior Services Blog

Home Energy Tips for Older Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

The Eldercare Locator and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have partnered to provide some economical tips to stay warm and safe at home. They have published a guide called "Winter Warmth and Safety: Home Energy Tips for Older Adults".
First, there are programs that can assist you with heating costs. The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas can provide information about state, county, and city programs to help older adults with winter heating costs. In addition, the federal LIHEAP program helps eligible low income home owners and renters to afford home heating. Each county in Florida has a different agency that administers LIHEAP. Applications are only available by contacting your local agency. For Pasco County, this agency is Mid Florida Community Services, Inc. - if you are in East Pasco, the number is (352) 567-0533 and for West Pasco, the number is (727) 845-7350.

Next, there are programs to help you save money by making your home better insulated and more energy efficient. The Florida program is the "Weatherization Assistance Program".

The Winter Warmth Guide also gives additional tips such as:

Do not use your stove or oven to heat your home.
Insulate water pipes to avoid freezing and bursting.
Have a back-up plan for extreme weather conditions.

Click here for more information.

Glaucoma Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month. The Glaucoma Research Foundation states that Glaucoma is "the sneak thief of sight" since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Moreover, among African American and Latino populations, glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness..." People over 60 are another high risk group. Medication and surgery can prevent or slow vision loss, but the key is to catch it early. Regular eye exams can detect Glaucoma early on. You can read more about Glaucoma here.

Senior Fun Fest

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:44:00 +0000

The Senior Connections and Mature Lifestyles magazines will be presenting the 7th annual Senior Fun Fest on Thursday, January 19th at the Florida State Fairgrounds from 10am - 3:00pm. Admission is free, but there is a $3 parking fee. The event will feature:

Free Health Screenings
Live Music
Senior Fun Walk at 9:15am
Grand kids are the Greatest Photo Contest (call 1-888-670-0040 for details).
Senior-Friendly Sports Center
free bingo and giveaways

   Florida State Fairgrounds
             Special Events Building
           4800 Hwy 301 N. , Tampa, FL 33610
             (Martin Luther King entrance)

Decide to Live a Healthier Life in 2012!

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:00:00 +0000

You can live a healthier life by eating more nutritious food, by making sure that you have enough Calcium, B12, and Vitamin D, and by starting an exercise program. If you need information to help you get started, the National Institutes of Health have a webpage called "Eating Well as You Get Older". This website has recommendations for healthy food, eating well on a budget, and it also has videos on nutrition. You can access this information here.

The National Institute on Aging has created a new website to help older adults to begin and continue an exercise program. This website, Go4Life, explains the benefits of exercise, recommends exercises, and helps you to set your goals. They recommend that you pick activities that you enjoy and that you make exercise a social activity, by having a friend or family member as an exercise buddy. You can access this information here.

Upcoming Library Programs for Older Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Would you like to learn how to use Facebook, learn how to borrow library books on an e-book reader, learn needlepoint, or create a living will? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs. Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

                  Wed, Jan 4th at 2:00pm
         Senior Social at New River Library
Wii bowling, card games, and refreshments.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

      Thursday, Jan 5th, 12th, and 19th at 2:30pm
Memoir Writing at Centennial Park Library
Put your memories to paper! Whether you are interested in writing a formal memoir, or an informal family history to share with your children and grandchildren, this workshop can help you get started.
Centennial Park Library
5740 Moog Road, Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 834-3204

Friday, Jan 6th at 11:00am
E-Reader Basics at Hugh Embry Library
Please call to register
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523
(352) 567-3576

Friday, Jan 6th at 2:00pm
E-book Basics at Regency Park Library
Please call to register. Regency Park Library
9701 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 861-3049

Friday, Jan 6th at 2:00pm
Introduction to Facebook at South Holiday Library
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 834-3331

Friday Jan 6th at 2:00pm
Five Wishes: Living Will Program at New River Library
Five wishes is a program that helps you create a 12 page Living Will. This program is free and you can bring this legal document home. This program is provided by the Gulfside Regional Hospice.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

Wednesday, Jan 11th at 2:00pm
Introduction to Facebook at New River Library
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

Thursday, Jan 12th at 6:00
Stitching Series at Regency Park Library
A special course taught by members of the Gulfview Chapter of the Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. Please call 727-861-3049 to preregister.
Regency Park Library
9701 Little Road New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 861-3049

Friday, Jan 20th at 2:00pm
Senior Movie Social and Cards at Hugh Embry Library
Seniors, enjoy recent-release hit movies, then play your favorite card games. January's film based on the best-seller by Kathryn Stockett. Bring your friends!
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523
(352) 567-3576

Also, many branches offer book clubs, language classes, and gardening programs. You can contact your local branch to find out about these programs.

Social Security Quick Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 18:43:00 +0000

The AARP has published a one page overview of Social Security Facts for each of the 50 states. Here are some highlights from the "Social Security: 2011 Florida Quick Facts":

Florida ranks 24th in income level among the states.
One in five Florida residents receive Social Security.
Florida's 65+ population will reach 19% of the state population in 2015.
Social Security is responsible for lifting over 35% of retirees from poverty in Florida.

You can access the full report here. If you are interested in the facts about other states, you can find a list of the fact sheets here.

Upcoming Library Programs for Older Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:32:00 +0000

Would you like to try a new craft, meet new people, join a sing-a-long, or learn how to write your memoirs? These are just a few of the upcoming Pasco library programs. The Friends of the Library sponsors our programs. Here is a list of the upcoming library programs for Older Adults in Pasco County:

                  Wed, Dec 14th at 2:00pm
         Senior Social at New River Library
Wii bowling, card games, and refreshments.
New River Library
34043 State Road 54, Zephyrhills, Fl 33543
(813) 788-6375

      Thursday, Dec 15th at 2:30pm
Memoir Writing at Centennial Park Library
Put your memories to paper! Whether you are interested in writing a formal memoir, or an informal family history to share with your children and grandchildren, this workshop can help you get started.
Centennial Park Library
5740 Moog Road, Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 834-3204

Friday, Dec 16th at 2:00pm
Senior Holiday Carols and Cards
             at Hugh Embry Library
Hugh Embry Library
14215 Fourth Street, Dade City, FL 33523
(352) 567-3576

Saturday, Dec 17th at 11:00am
Sit-n-Knit at South Holiday Library
South Holiday Library
4649 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL 34690
(727) 834-3331

Tuesday, Dec 20th at 5:45pm
Ruby's Tuesdays (knitting club) at Hudson Regional Library
Hudson Regional Library
8012 Library Road, Hudson, FL 34667
(727) 861-3040

Also, many branches offer computer classes and classes that teach you how to use e-book readers. You can contact your local branch to register for these classes.

Be a Santa to a Senior

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:31:00 +0000

There are many programs to brighten the holiday season for needy children and families. However, did you know that there is a program to help isolated and needy Seniors? Home Instead Senior Care started the "Be a Santa to a Senior" program in 2006 and it is now nationwide. Home Instead Senior Care partners with local non-profit and community organizations to identify seniors who might not otherwise receive gifts this holiday season. The company then works with local businesses and retail stores to help facilitate the purchase and distribution of gifts by placing trees and ornaments with the Seniors' requests. Since the program started, they have provided 1.2 million gifts to 700,000 Seniors. You can do a zip code search to find organizations in your community that participate in this program. Here is a video describing this program:

The Nov/Dec Elder Update is available

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:00:00 +0000

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs publishes a bimonthly newsletter, the "Elder Update", for Florida Seniors. The current issue includes articles about Senior Driving, fraud prevention, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). You can download the current issue here. Alternatively, you can sign up for a print subscription here.

Report on Financial Abuse of Older Americans

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

The Metlife Mature Market Institute has published a report called “The MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse: Crimes of Occasion, Desperation, and Predation Against America’s Elders.” This study found that financial abuse of older Americans has increased 12% since 2008. The key findings of this study include:

51% of the reported fraud perpetrators were strangers
34% of the reported fraud perpetrators were family, friends, and neighbors of the victim
12% were businesses which exploited the elderly
women were nearly twice as likely as men to be victims of elder financial abuse
most victims were between the ages of 80- 89
an estimated $2.9 billion dollars were lost by victims of financial abuse in 2010

The full study can be accessed here.

How can you avoid financial abuse and scams?
The National Council on Aging has published an online handbook outlining how to avoid scams. This handbook is called "Savvy Saving Seniors: Steps to Avoiding Scams." It lists the top ten scams targeting Seniors (on p. 10) and gives tips for avoiding scams (on p. 14).

November is National Family Caregivers Month

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Over 65 million people in America care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend. On average they spend 20 hours per week caring for their loved one. President Obama has proclaimed November 2011 as National Family Caregivers Month. You can read this proclamation here. The National Family Caregivers Association (NFCA) is a non profit organization, which was founded in 1993. Its mission is "to empower family caregivers to act on behalf of themselves and their loved ones, and to remove barriers to health and well being." The NFCA coordinates National Family Caregivers Month and the theme for this year is "Identifying Family Caregivers". The NFCA offered some recommendations for celebrating National Family Caregivers Month, including:

Offer a few hours of respite time to allow a caregiver to rest.
Send a card of appreciation or a bouquet of flowers to brighten up a family caregiver’s day.
Help a family caregiver decorate their home for the holidays or offer to address envelopes for their holiday cards.
Help a family caregiver find information and resources on the internet or to locate a local support group.

Remember, you can contact the Area Agency on Aging's Senior Helpline (1-800-963-5337) to find local resources for respite care. This helpline is available for residents of Florida.

Veterans Day Information

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:00:00 +0000

The U.S. Census Bureau has published the following Veterans Day Facts:

There were 21.8 million veterans in 2010.
There were 1.6 million female veterans.
9 million veterans are age 65+
$35,367 is the annual median income of veterans
3.4 million veterans have a service-connected disability rating.

You can access more U. S. Census Veterans Facts here. Here are Florida veterans statistics from the November Elder Update of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs:

More than 1.6 million veterans live in Florida
The State of Florida has the largest number of World War II veterans.
Approximately 12% of all Floridians age 18+ are veterans.

The State of Florida may be the most veteran friendly state! Florida provides additional benefits to veterans, which other states do not provide. A summary of these benefits can be found on page 3 of the November Elder Update. For more information, you can contact the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs.

President Obama has published a 2011 veterans day proclamation, which can be accessed here.
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs created this video commemorating Veterans Day:

Senior Social at New River Library

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Want to meet new people and have fun? We will have card games, board games, Wii bowling, and refreshments for Seniors (age 50+). This program is sponsored by the New River Friends of the Library.

Wed Nov 9th at 2:00pm

at New River Library

34043 State Road 54

Zephyrhills, FL

813-788-6375

Tampa Bay Senior Expo

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:25:00 +0000

The St. Petersburg Times and the Senior Living Guide will be sponsoring the Tampa Bay Senior Expo on Thursday, November 3rd. This free expo for ages 50+ will provide:

free health screenings
travel news
educational seminars
recreational opportunities
retirement choices

Thursday, Nov 3rd from 10:00am - 3:00pm

Gulf View Square Mall

9409 US Hwy 19 #215

Port Richey, FL

World Stroke Day

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:26:00 +0000

World Stroke Day is Saturday, October 29th. One in six people worldwide will have a stroke sometime in their lives. By learning about this condition, you can limit your risk of having a stroke. This campaign promotes six stroke challenges:

Know your personal risk factors: high blood pressure, diabetes, and high blood cholesterol
exercise regularly
Avoid obesity by keeping to a healthy diet
Limit alcohol consumption
Avoid cigarette smoke
Learn to recognize the warning signs of a stroke and how to take action

You can take a quiz to find out your stroke risk by clicking here. The American Stroke Association has published the warning signs for stroke here. For more information about stroke and about how to control high blood pressure, see this article from the American Stroke Association.

Senior Wii Yoga and Games at Hugh Embry Library

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Seniors, we'll have a great time doing some deep-breathing exercises, then some (simple) yoga stretches. It's fun and healthy. (We won't be doing anything too difficult, we promise.) Bring your friends! Afterwards, play your favorite card and board games! All supplies courtesy Friends of Hugh Embry Library.

Wii Fit Yoga Stretching and Cards

Friday, October 21, 2011

2:00 p.m.

Hugh Embry Branch Library

14215 4th St. Dade City, FL

Questions? Call 352-567-3576

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:45:00 +0000

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is October 15th through December 7, 2011. If you review your health care plan and prescription drug coverage, you can check to see if another plan could lower your costs. To find out if another plan would be better for you, you will need to gather some information. You will need a list of your medications and a list of your health care providers. For more information about how to review your Medicare coverage, see page 16 of the Elder Update newsletter for Sept/Oct. If you would like one-on-one help with Medicare enrollment questions, you can get help from a SHINE volunteer.

The SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) program provides free counseling to Seniors about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care planning, and prescription assistance. The program is administered at the county level through the local "Area Agency on Aging" (other states also have this program - either in their Department of Aging or in their Department of Insurance).

This program trains volunteers to help older adults to get the information that they need to make informed decisions on health insurance issues. They provide information to elders, their caregivers, and their families.

To receive Medicare counseling in Pasco County, you can call 1-800-963-5337. If you are interested in becoming a SHINE volunteer in Pasco County, please contact Sue Samson at 727-570-9696, ext 234.

The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco - Pinellas also provides many other services for seniors and caregivers. You can click on the picture below to access their website:

Social Networking Report

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:33:00 +0000

The Pew Research Center recently published a report about the growth of social networking sites, such as Facebook, MySpace, and Linked In. In 2005, less than 4% of internet users age 50-64 used social networking websites and less than 1% of internet users age 65+ used social networking sites. Now, 51% of internet users age 50-64 use social networking websites and less than 33% of internet users age 65+ use social networking sites. Just in the last two years, social networking for age 65+ has grown 150%. You can read the complete report here.
Many Older Adults are using Facebook to connect with their children, grandchildren, and friends who live far away. You can read their updates and see recent pictures. Also, every library branch in Pasco County has a Facebook page (*see below). If you would like to learn about Facebook, New River Library has a beginning Facebook class this month:
                   Introduction to Facebook
                         Wednesday, Oct 19th
                                 2:00pm

Location:    New River Library
                      34043 State Road 54
                      Zephyrhills, FL
No registration is required. For more information, please call 813-788-6375.

*Pasco County Library Branch Facebook Pages:

Free Caregiving Training Seminars

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 15:51:00 +0000

HPH Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are providing "The Caregiver Training Series" in Dade City on Tuesday afternoons from Oct 11th to November 1st. These seminars will cover an overview of Alzheimer’s, how the disease changes communication, dealing with difficult behaviors, caregiver stress and community resources. There will also be information on research and treatment. The seminars are free, but advanced registration is required. To register or for more information, call Jan Double at 727-705-0107.

Tuesday, October 1 -"The Basics of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias"
Tuesday, October 18 - "Communication and Managing Behaviors"
Tuesday, October 25 - "Caregiver Stress and How to Manage It"
Tuesday, October 18 - "Community Resources and Advocacy"

                 Time:           1:30pm - 3:00pm
          Location:           HPH Hospice Team Office
                                        37445 Clinton Ave.
                                        Dade City, FL 33525

Florida Senior Games 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 15:00:00 +0000

The first Florida Senior Games championships were held in 1992. These games are for people age 50 and above. Currently, the Florida Sports Foundation sanctions local games, which serve as qualifiers for the state championships. The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department will be hosting the Tampa Bay local qualifier games this year from October 3rd-14th. The locations of the events, registration form, and rule book can be found here. The sports offered include:

3-on-3 Basketball
Basketball
Shooting, Billiards
Bowling
Golf
Horseshoes
Pickleball
Powerlifting
Race Walk
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track and Field

The State Championships will be held Dec. 3rd -11th in various locations in Polk County. These state championships are the qualifiers for the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland, Ohio from July 21st - August 6th, 2013. For more information on the National Senior Games Association, please click here.

How to Find Reliable Health Information Online

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:00:00 +0000

There are thousands of websites that provide health information online. A lot of these sites are just trying to sell health products to you and they may not provide correct information. You can start to evaluate a website by looking at who sponsors it. If the web site is a ".gov" (government website) or a ".edu" (college or university web site), the information will be more reliable and unbiased than a ".com" (commercial web site). You can find out more information to help you evaluate health websites on the National Institute on Aging website: "Online Health Information: Can You Trust It?".

Here are some excellent health websites:

NIH Senior Health - good basic information on many health topics; very user-friendly; also includes videos on topics such as Macular Degeneration.
MedlinePlus Senior's Health (from the U.S. National Library of Medicine) - good directory of Senior health resources.
MedlinePlus - search by health topic or search drugs and supplements- brings together information from many sources – such as the Mayo Clinic, the CDC, and the American Medical Association.
NIDCD - information about dealing with deafness.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute- Managing Heart Disease

Looking for a health provider? Here is a list of directories:

Healthfinder - find a dentist, a doctor, hospital, hospice care, etc.
Florida Health Finder - find and compare hospitals, prescription drug prices, nursing homes, etc.

Want to compare Medicare providers? Medicare.gov has the following tools:

Free Memory Screenings in September

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 17:54:00 +0000

If you’re age 50 or older and feeling forgetful, there’s probably no reason to worry. However, you can put your mind at ease by making an appointment for a free, 20-minute memory screening. HPH Hospice and the Alzheimer's Association are sponsoring memory screenings this month for people age 50 and older in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Mobile bus. Space is limited, so you will need to register for an appointment. To register, call Jan Double at 727-705-0107. This bus will be parked at two locations in Pasco County:

In West Pasco:

On Monday and Tuesday - September 19th & 20th

10:00am to 4:00pm

HPH Hospice SP Team Office
6807 Rowan Road
New Port Richey, FL

In East Pasco:

On Thursday and Friday - September 29th & 30th

10:00am to 4:00pm

HPH Hospice East Pasco Team Office
37445 Clinton Avenue
Dade City, FL

Note: Screenings are not intended for individuals who have been diagnosed with Dementia.

For more information, click here for the HPH Hospice homepage.

Florida Memory Project

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 14:15:00 +0000

The Division of Library and Information Services of the Florida Department of State has expanded their online Florida Memory website. This website originally hosted only photographs and scanned documents from Florida history (see previous blog post). Now this archive has expanded to include historical Florida videos, music, and folklore interviews. Here are two pictures from this online archive:

Engine 507 and crew

        Dottie Schroeder of the All-American Girls
                    Professional Baseball League

                Here are two video excepts:

The full version of the 1917 inauguration for Sidney J. Catts can be seen here.

The full version of this video about the Everglades can be found here.

You can explore the complete Florida Memory Project here.

Upcoming Library Programs for Adults

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Here are some highlights of upcoming Pasco County Library Adult Programs:

September 1st at 2:00pm - Explore the Amazon - a travelogue by Janice Onuska - at Centennial Park Library
September 2nd at 2:00pm - An Introduction to Library E-books - at South Holiday Library
September 3rd at 12:00pm - Beginning Spanish - at New River Library
September 6th at 6:30pm - Growing Bamboo - at Hudson Library
September 16th at 2:00pm - Facebook Basics at Regency Park Library
September 23rd at 2:00pm - Seniors Wii Yoga and Games - at Hugh Embry Library
September 24th at 11:00am - Sit -N-Knit - at South Holiday Library

Do you have a friend or family member who would like to learn how to use computers? New River Library provides beginning computer classes and one-on-one tutoring for Seniors in computer basics. You can call for more information at 813-788-6375.

The full calendar of adult events in September can be accessed here. Click here for library branch addresses and phone numbers.

New Generic Drugs in 2011 and 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Pasco County Library System) — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:12:00 +0000

Generic drugs can save you money. What are considered generic drugs? According to the FDA:

"A generic drug is identical--or bioequivalent--to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use. Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price."

Below are two lists* for drugs which are soon to become "generic" for the years 2011 and 2012.

2011

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availability

Uroxatral------- alfuzosin--------------July
Zyprexa---------olanzapine------------October
Lipitor-----------atorvastatin----------November
Caduet----------amlodipine------------November
Tazorac---------tazarotene cream-----November

2012

Brand Name----Generic Name----Availability

Lexapro-----------escitalopram----------February
Entocort EC------budesonide------------February
Avandia-----------rosiglitazone-----------March
Avandaryl--------glimepiride-------------March
Avandamet-------metformin--------------March
Boniva------------ibandronate-------------March
Seroquel----------quetiapine--------------March
Avapro------------irbesartan---------------March
Avalide-----------hydrochlorothiazide----March
Provigil-----------modafinil------------------April
Plavix-------------clopidogrel----------------May
Viramune---------nevirapine---------------May
Lescol-------------fluvastatin----------------June
Tricor-------------fenofibrate---------------July
Clarinex----------desloratadine------------July
Singulair----------montelukast-------------August
Actos-------------pioglitazone--------------August
Exforge------amlodipine-valsartan------September
Diovan-------valsartan--------------------September
Diovan HCT----hydrochlorothiazide----September
Geodon---------ziprasidone---------------September
Combivir------lamivudine-zidovudine---November
Atacand------candesartan-----------------December
Maxalt-------rizatriptan--------------------December

*these lists are provided by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit Independent Licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association.

Facts and Myths about Generic Drugs

Fact: 7 in 10 prescriptions in the United States are filled by generic drugs.

Myth: Brand name drugs are safer than generic drugs. Fact: FDA receives very few reports of adverse events about specific generic drugs. Most reports of adverse events are related to side effects of the drug ingredient itself.

To learn more facts and myths concerning generic drugs, please visit the FDA site.