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Lake Gibson Village
What is a senior care pharmacist?
A senior care pharmacist is a pharmacist who provides expert advice on the use of medications to individuals and older adults, wherever they live.
Senior care pharmacists are committed to providing person-centered care, considering the complex interrelationships between disease states, nutrition, medications, and other variables. They are essential clinicians on the health care team, and infl uential decision-makers in all aspects of medication therapy.
Senior care pharmacists counsel patients, provide information and recommendations to prescribers and caregivers, review patients’ medication regimens, present in-service educational programs, and oversee medication distribution services. While a senior care pharmacist may provide this type of clinical expertise to any age group, senior care pharmacists focus on the special pharmacotherapeutic challenges of the senior citizen.
What does a senior care pharmacist do? Senior care pharmacists have specialized knowledge in geriatrics, geriatric pharmacotherapy, and the unique medication-related needs of the senior population, which they apply in the provision of pharmaceutical care.
Senior care pharmacy practice is unique in that it is population rather than site specifi c. Senior care pharmacists practice geriatric pharmacotherapy in all settings. In providing person-centered care, senior care pharmacists look at their patients holistically -- as individuals for whom quality of life and quality of care are mutually signifi cant and necessary.
Senior care pharmacists reduce medication- related problems and improve therapeutic outcomes.
Through care medication regimen review, these pharmacists minimize the health risks of seniors taking medications that could be inappropriate and recommend more appropriate choices, including discontinuation of unnecessary medications.
Untreated or undertreated health concerns are identifi ed, and treatment recommendations are made, considering potential side eff ects and drug/food/disease interactions.
The entire medication regimen, including those taken “prn” is carefully reviewed, including prescription, OTC, dietary supplements, and herbal products to determine whether the product is necessary, dosed correctly, safe for the patient, and aff ordable.
The senior care pharmacist both educates others in the clinical team as to medication management and takes continuing education courses in this area to further self-development. Senior care pharmacists participate in facility quality assurance programs, conduct clinician-training sessions, and ensure appropriate clinical practice guidelines are met and followed by the facility.
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