Geriatric care has undergone immense change in the last few decades. This change is primarily due to the increase in the aging population globally. In the background of this demographic change, there has been growing recognition of special health needs for older adults. Pharmacists are now more recently recognized as integral members of the health care team, particularly in medication management optimization and improvement of health outcomes in the geriatric patient. The current review covers different roles played by pharmacists within the process of geriatric care: medication safety, transitional care, patient education, and general healthcare coordination.
The Pharmacist in Geriatric Care
This leads to a state of polypharmacy, where the older adult generally presents with complicated health profiles and often hosts a myriad of chronic conditions that require them to take many medications. This further refers to the situation by raising the risks for subsequent adverse drug events, medication errors, and readmissions to the hospital. The pharmacist is uniquely positioned because they specialize in pharmacology, medication counseling, and management; thus, they are specifically called upon to help solve the problems described above. They can bring tremendous improvements in the safety of their patients and adherence to medication regimens, thereby improving the quality of life for older adults.
Reducing medication-related problems
Medication-related problems are very common in elderly patients and are most expected during the transition of care, particularly at the time of discharge from the hospital. Multiple studies have shown that pharmacist-led interventions are very effective in reducing medication-related problems after discharge. These interventions mainly involve medication reconciliation, patient education, and follow-up consultations. For instance, a pharmacy-led transitional care program that has incorporated the key elements of medication reconciliation, teach-back methodology, and health care provider communication has considerably reduced the incidence of medication-related problems. This hence brings into context the central role of a pharmacist in so far as ensuring the secure and effective use of drugs among geriatric patients.