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22 To walk into Olden's Pharmacy is to walk into the "drug store" of old. Up front is an array of gift items, greeting cards, cosmetics, town pride sweatshirts, snacks, and everything you need to play the lottery. Customers chat with the same employees who used to work behind the soda fountain and who have literally grown up at Olden's. Walk toward the back, and the store opens into the present and the future of this cornerstone of Weymouth's Columbian Square business community. Olden's, a family-owned and operated business, has been in its present location for 50 years, and has been in the same family since the 1970's. Current owners Paul Hackett and Bill and Joan MacArthur purchased the store in 1991 from Paul and Joan's father, Fred. Both Paul and Joan grew up in the store, working alongside their father, inheriting his love of community and commitment to serving their customers. Both went to Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, where Joan met Bill. In February, proudly and with much celebration, Olden's filled its 2 millionth new prescription. Like the drugstores of the past, Olden's has a full array of health care and first-aid supplies. They have aisles of over-the- counter medications, vitamins, external pain relievers, and a large assortment of wound dressings. Many of their items are hard to find anywhere else, so much so that physicians in the area routinely recommend a trip to Olden's for home health care supplies. Olden's is also a recognized leader in bathroom safety equipment and mobility aids. With his practical sense and empathetic nature, Bill MacArthur is the medical equipment expert, according to their website (www.oldens-pharmacy.com). He cites shorter hospital stays as one reason for the increasing necessity for home safety equipment. In many cases, patients will not be sent home until these safety aids are in place. Customers know they will find anything they need to make their life easier after an injury or surgery – from air casts and splints, to canes and walkers, to ice packs and wraps, to wheelchairs, compression stockings, raised toilet seats and bath safety chairs. There is also light exercise equipment and mobility aids to help with grooming, dressing, and reaching. Joan MacArthur says there are many, many benefits to being a community-anchored, family-owned pharmacy. Olden's has always been customer-focused, and being independent allows them to respond quickly and fully to their customers' changing needs. For example, to help the aging population remain in their homes, Olden's can enroll them in the Medication Blister-Packing or Sync My Med programs. These programs ensure seniors are taking their prescriptions accurately, freeing them from the worry and hassle of keeping their medications organized. Joan continues this focus on customers by writing a monthly column on the website. On her blog, subjects like elder care issues are addressed at length. It is there that you will find helpful tips on how to ensure that an elderly person will take the correct medication, bathroom safety equipment tips, or information on COPD. The depth of knowledge and caring at the core of Olden's is reflected on their site. MacArthur said "we want our website to be a place people can go to as a resource." Seeing a "huge need for it," they have just added a new diabetic shoe store, handicap accessible from the municipal parking lot behind the store or through the store. Paul Hackett and Pharmacy Technician Penny Trancucci took courses to become Certified Therapeutic Shoe Fitters to adhere to the Medicare Standard. After much research, Paul chose to carry the Dr. Comfort brand of shoes and socks, because of their quality and extensive selection for men and women in both dress and casual styles. Penny, the daughter of a podiatrist, schedules the appointments and handles the Medicare billing. The pharmacy, of course, is a hub of activity. Staffed by all three Pharmacist/Owners, along with Certified Pharmacy Technicians Lynda Russo and Roberta McKearney, Joan and Bill estimate they fill hundreds of prescriptions per day, seven days per week. Paul introduced computers to the pharmacy in the 1980's, and about 10 years ago, he added a robotic pill counting machine to further increase efficiency. The third generation of the Hackett family is now getting involved too, with Paul's son Kyle, a by Maryellen Dever, photography by Susan Hagstrom Olden's Pharmacy F a m i l y - O w n e d , C u s t o m e r - F o c u s e d , C o m m u n i t y - A n c h o r e d