From over-the-counter medication labels to the instructions on prescription medicines, medical jargon is everywhere. It’s sometimes confusing and often hard to understand.
Studies have found that nearly one-third of all Americans have difficulties in understanding the instructions from their medical prescriptions or their doctors. The dedicated heathcare professionals at the Ocean County Health Department are trying to do something to help our senior citizens and their families understand special instructions from their doctors and the effects of their prescription medicines.
Under a grant obtained through the Office of Senior Services, our health department has established a free program featuring a Safe Medication Management Seminar available to organizations and senior citizens groups to discuss how to take prescriptions correctly and how to follow a doctor’s instructions.
The seminars are run by a registered nurse, certified in gerontology.
They focus on understanding prescription medicines, how to correctly take medications, interactions between various medications and the facts and fiction surrounding over-the-counter drugs. For more information or to schedule a health department speaker, contact Michele Rodriguez, a registered nurse certified in gerontology, at the Ocean County Health De-partment, (732) 341-9700, ext. 7613.
Many of us may not fully understand our medications. The Ocean County Health De-partment is working hard to help assure that our senior citizens understand their medications and their doctor’s orders so they may enjoy a healthy retirement.
Gerry P. Little
director
Ocean County
Board of Freeholders
Toms River
More handicapped parking needed in area
Do you find a severe lack of handicapped parking spaces in Jackson? I do. I am permanently handicapped and am appalled by the lack of spots provided by ShopRite on County Line Road. One spot at the end of each row of spaces (eight or 10 total) to serve a high volume store with a huge parking area.
Healthy people often park, run in and pick up a few items. For handicapped people, we tend to do a big shopping in order to cut down on the number of trips. Since they are handicapped, they can’t dash through the store; therefore, if they are lucky enough to find a handicapped spot, they are likely to be parked there for a longer time.
Another problem spot is the strip mall on Bennetts Mills Road near Cooks Bridge Road. There are several spots in front of the Rite Aid, more than enough for the size of the store, but not another one down the remaining strip.
Please, if you’re in the same situation as I am, or know someone who is, contact the Jackson officials and ask for more accessibility to the stores. Thank you.
Ruth A. Longstreet
Jackson
Parents organization wants details on lollipop ban
Let us share our disappointment with you. See how you would feel. Recently our Crawford-Rodri-guez Elementary School Parent Teacher Network (PTN) was having a lollipop sale to help fund the fifth-grade activities. As we all know, fundraising is so important to finance our children’s school trips and activities.
Mind you, this lollipop sale, which takes place during lunch period, is spread out over six days of the entire school year.
Can you imagine our surprise when the cafeteria workers felt we were cutting into their profits? Do the cafeteria workers work on commission?
Do they begrudge raising money for the children? Are the snacks they serve so much healthier for the children?
They were so annoyed by us having this sale that they contacted their superior, Rose Chamberlain, the director of food services.
This call led to a call to our principal by Ms. Chamberlain to inform him no outside food sales were allowed in the cafeteria.
Does food services have jurisdiction over PTN fundraising and our children? We say no.
What is most disturbing is that we receive flier after flier asking parents to support the budget. We are asked as a PTN to help get the message out. What we want to know is, where is our support? You tell me.
A call was placed to Jackson Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella’s office and we are waiting for a response.
Denise Olear
Camille Smisek
Jackson
Library supporter appreciates effort by Kafton
I would like to start by saying thank you to (Township Committeeman) Mike Kafton on behalf of the Jackson Friends of the Library.
It seemed that all our requests for getting Jackson’s approval for the Ocean County Library to erect a sign on West Veterans Highway identifying the location of the Jackson Library were ignored until we called Mike Kafton’s office. Mike not only listened, he got the job done.
Public servants like Mike Kafton are a tremendous asset to Jackson and I, for one, would like to see him continue in elected office. Mike Kafton does what he was elected to do, i.e., serve the people who elected him. He also returns calls.
Roger Friend
Jackson
Theme park’s fireworks display irks Jackson resident
I understand that Six Flags Great Adventure is the largest employer and taxpayer in Jackson; however, that does not five them the right to disrupt the quality of life in our community. I have lived in Jackson for seven years and am located about 3 miles from the park.
I have grown accustomed to the additional noise and traffic that accompany the park’s season. The fireworks display on March 31 was extremely noisy, disruptive and completely overdone. Not only did the noise awaken my wife and me, but the windows in my house rattled and items fell off the walls.
It is my understanding that Jackson has a noise ordinance. It needs to be enforced.
Additional legislation should be enacted and penalties put into place to ensure that this type of display does not reoccur.
James J. Ryan
Jackson