Commonly Used Medicines Send Seniors to Hospitals [as reported in The Wall Street Journal]

Commonly used diabetes pills and blood thinners—not high-risk medications like opiate painkillers—are behind most visits by senior citizens to U.S. emergency rooms for drug reactions and unintentional overdoses, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. 

The findings suggest that hundreds of millions of dollars could be saved annually by improving the education and drug management of people with certain chronic conditions.

The study, conducted by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, estimated that 99,628 hospitalizations every year of people 65 years and older are linked to adverse drug events such as allergic reactions and unintentional overdoses. Nearly half of those hospitalized were adults 80 years old and older.

Avoiding Probate

If all of your assets are jointly owned and you wish to have the co-owner of the account inherit it after your passing, this is a convenient way to avoid probate. But beware. A co-owner can withdraw all money in the account at any time. A safe way would be to list your intended beneficiaries on the bank account and have the bank account titled as payable on death (“POD”) to them. You would remain in full and complete control of the accounts during your lifetime and retain the right to change who will inherit it.

Who Will Know If You’re In a Serious Auto Accident?

Maryland drivers can now add three emergency contacts to their driver’s license so police will know who to call if an accident occurs. The emergency contact information is stored electronically on an individual’s driver’s license and will be available only to authorized law enforcement and medical personnel.

You can go to the MVA’s website at www.mva.maryland.gov and add your three emergency contacts in just a few minutes! Go to the website, click “On-line Transactions”, then click “More”, look under “Other Services” and then click “Emergency Contacts” to add your contact names, addresses and phone numbers.

NOTE:  To perform this Emergency Contact transaction, you must be able to provide your driver’s license number, date of birth, and PIN or last 4 digits of your social security number.