Assemblyman Mike Norris (R,C-Lockport) is working with the University of Buffalo’s Center for Successful Aging’s Team Alice to host a lifesaving educational program for seniors on the dangers of overmedication on September 7 at The Dale Association. The program will also empower attendees with tips on how to become more actively engaged in their health care decisions and set them up for success as they get older.

“It’s about empowerment,” said Norris. “Like so many others, I was heartbroken when I learned of the tragic, yet preventable death of Alice Brennen, which sparked Team Alice and this awareness project. Unfortunately, too many people – particularly seniors – do not feel empowered to ask questions of their health care providers and make sure they have the answers they need. While our health care providers have the best intentions, research shows most doctors and physician assistants spend just a few minutes with their patients. This forum is designed to help empower seniors to make the most of those precious minutes to make sure they get the clarity and answers they need to protect their health.”

As our population ages and medications are more widely prescribed, there has been a dramatic increase in adverse drug events. In fact, in the last decade, there were 35 million cases of seniors who sought medical treatment because of prescription drugs, more than 2 million hospital admissions and an average of 750 seniors per day are hospitalized due to serious side effects from medications. With the rate of older Americans accidentally overdosing on prescription medications – and with nearly 20 percent of seniors taking ten or more drugs daily – Norris wanted to get seniors in his district help with this important topic.

Norris has now partnered with Team Alice, which was organized by Mary Brennan Taylor, an adjunct assistant professor at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences after the sudden death of her mother, Alice, in 2009. Alice Brennan was an active senior, living in her own home, driving herself, managing her own finances and the type of engaged, lively woman anyone would describe as the life of the party. However, her life was gone in just six weeks as the result of a preventable medical error and overmedication. Team Alice’s mission is to ensure this does not happen to any other senior, and the public can learn more about them and Alice’s story by attending the event or on their website at: https://www.buffalo.edu/csa/research/research-projects/team-alice.html.

All residents of the 144^th Assembly District aged 65 or older, or their loved ones, are encouraged to attend this free event, which will be held at The Dale Association on Thursday, September 7, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Dale Association is located at 33 Ontario Street in Lockport. For questions or to sign up, please RSVP to Norris’ office by calling (716) 839-4691 or email him at norrism@nyassembly.gov.