Patient Vignette (Margaret Talbot)

Margaret is 68 years of age living in a larger rural community with good access to health professionals. She has smoked all her adult life and her GP would like her to at least cut down and
preferably stop. Margaret smokes 10 cigarettes daily usually associated with meals where she drinks coffee which she greatly enjoys.She lives with the following health issues:5 Multiple Sclerosis -fatigue and balance issues predominant6 Unable to manage her medications successfully7 Smoking8 Osteoporosis (subsequent to a fractured neck of femur and hip replacement 6 months earlier)Margaret, who is widowed and has no family living close by, is finding it very difficult to manage her many medications.  She is struggling to understand her osteoporosis, and also how to manage
her Multiple Sclerosis which has affected her balance.Recently she has started using a wheeled walker having progressed from a walking stick. She is looking to learn to manage her health issues
more effectively and stay safely in her own home for as long as possible. Margaret is lactose intolerant and is struggling to consume adequate calcium in her diet. Her GP has suggested that she
seek your help.