Some older Virginia women have an annual "Pill Party" to discuss their medications

Pill BottlesPhoto byOlga DeLawrenceonUnsplash

I have heard of different types of parties that women attend, such as jewelry parties, Tupperware parties, cosmetic parties, and other parties where women get together just to be in the company of other women.

I had never heard of a pill party until I recently received an invitation from a prominent woman in my community to attend one with other older women. I respectfully declined after the 89-year-old host gave me details about the gathering.

What's a Pill Party?

I discovered that the pill party I was invited to is an annual event. It is a gathering of older women in the community who get together after church services on a designated Sunday to discuss the pills they are currently taking for their illnesses.

The hostess rotates every year. After she serves lunch, the attendees take turns showing and discussing their pills.

PillsPhoto byfreestocksonUnsplash

Since everyone there is taking some kind of pill, there is no judgment.
However, older women do not take medications belonging to others. They do not take them without being advised by their physician.

A small prize, such as a bill box, is given to the woman taking the most pills and to the woman taking the least.

Reasons I refused to attend the Pill Party

I think taking medication is a private and personal matter. There is no need to share what medicines I am taking in a group setting as if it is something to boast about. My goal is to get well so that no pills will have to be taken at all.