Games Senior Citizens Wish They Didn't Have to Play

By Sheri Fresonke Harper, published Apr 24, 2008
Published Content: 127  Total Views: 65,686  Favorited By: 100 CPs
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I have senior citizen parents, one pair in their seventies and one pair in their nineties, their brothers, sisters, my grandparents and all of their friends. Daily frustrations that I hear from them and that I've encountered have inspired this article. Most of the anecdotes are real, but a bit dramatized, just for the fun of it.

1. Best Pill Opener Game

I came home one day to see my father finished opening his prescription drugs. He take ten different prescription drugs, all with child proof tops, meaning no one in humanity can open them. On his worktable was his list of types of openers and what he concluded:

a) Hammer-works well, just divide the resultant prescription drug powder into equal piles and store in your day to day compartment. He has four of these, one for each week, they're mounted on the wall. He's afraid if he gets another prescription on that the wall will collapse under their weight.

b) Vise wrench-ask a neighbor to hold one end of the prescription drug container

c) Screw driver-doesn't work to pry so hammer through the bottom prescription drug container

d) Band saw-cut near the top of the prescription drug container, avoid your fingers

e) Blow torch-works well, verify prescription drugs are heat tolerant

The sad thing was my father started to cry when I gave him the mailing envelope with his new supply of prescription drugs. But don't worry, he's got a new list of openers starting with wire shears, glass cutter...

A third variant occurs when the dosage for the prescription drug is too high so the pharmacy provides the guillotine to cut them in half. See game 3 to better understand.

2. Co-Pay A Day Game

Games Senior Citizens Wish They Didn't Have to Play

Not all games are played the same.

Credit: Sheri Fresonke Harper

Copyright: Sheri Fresonke Harper

Did You Know?
Pharmacy (from the Greek öÜñìáêïí 'pharmakos' = drug) is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences, and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of medication. -- wikipedia.com
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It is a wonderful article. Thanks!

Posted on 05/05/2008 at 1:05:15 PM

 
Every senior loves their dietary supplement plan................bag o' pills. Funny article!

Posted on 05/03/2008 at 1:05:52 PM

 
:)

Posted on 05/02/2008 at 7:05:06 PM

 
terrific article, and wonderful tips

Posted on 05/02/2008 at 10:05:19 AM

 
Excellent, everyone should read this because if we are lucky we too will be playing some or all of these games!

Posted on 05/02/2008 at 7:05:20 AM

 
Ugh, I hate the drug store guillotine. I have to use one on my cat's meds, and it makes me feel like a senior citizen sometimes. I can't imagine trying to cut a tiny pill in half with arthritis or swollen fingers and being sucessful.

Posted on 04/30/2008 at 9:04:19 PM

 
This was a wonderful article and there is much truth in it. My parents are in their late 70s and it seems all they do is talk about when their next doctor appointment is!

Posted on 04/30/2008 at 9:04:05 PM

 
Great article..... My grandma puts all her pills in old tylenol bottle with the pop top lids....

Posted on 04/30/2008 at 9:04:51 PM

 
So true - and scares me to think about getting as old as my parents did. My Mom lived until she was 88! Your parents are lucky to have such wonderful children to care for them. I'm only 52 and already forget if I took my Synthroid pill. LOL.

Posted on 04/29/2008 at 11:04:57 AM

 
Love this....Funny but so true!!!!!

Posted on 04/29/2008 at 9:04:45 AM

 
Funny piece! I handle my elderly dad's medications for him (10 in all, plus aspirin!) and I can still manage to get the lids off without hand tools (so far).

Posted on 04/29/2008 at 6:04:47 AM

 
Gosh - I'm going through all this with my parents - 81 & 82. If we didn't make some funnies about it, it would all be too sad!~ Thanks.

Posted on 04/29/2008 at 5:04:41 AM

 
I agree with Kat V.

Posted on 04/28/2008 at 2:04:22 PM

 
Sherry, this is a great article! I also have to comment that I have the same chess board; I bought mine in Pisa, Italy and I'm wondering where you got yours.

Posted on 04/28/2008 at 8:04:27 AM

 
My grandparents loved this! We're FWD'ing it to their friends!

Posted on 04/27/2008 at 4:04:20 PM

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