Senior care pharmacists specialize in geriatric medications and work closely with patients over 65 to ensure safe, effective, and affordable medication use. They also advise on lifestyle changes, monitor medication effectiveness, and work with other healthcare professionals. They may offer home visits and suggest ways to make medication easier to take.
A senior care pharmacist is a pharmacist who specializes in geriatric medications and therefore their duties focus on people over 65. A senior care pharmacist’s most basic duty is filling prescriptions for chronic illnesses, but he or she typically works most closely with the patient to ensure that the medications used are safe, effective, and affordable. It is also possible to advise on a patient’s lifestyle to help prevent illness and facilitate the use of prescribed medications. Senior care pharmacists also work with other healthcare professionals and may offer home visits to patients.
The first duty of any pharmacist is to fill prescriptions, and this is also the most basic role of a senior care pharmacist. The only difference is that a senior pharmacist will dispense medication to people over 65 and check for other medications the patient may be using. The relationship with the patient is often closer than an ordinary pharmacist might have, as the senior pharmacist needs to be aware of all medications being taken and any side effects the patient may be experiencing.
A pharmacist who works primarily with those aged 65 and over checks for possible interactions between medications a patient may be taking to ensure the medications are safe and effective. It is also possible for the pharmacist to advocate for changes in prescriptions with the patient’s physician. Patients are also regularly monitored to ensure that the prescriptions they take are still working for them.
Accessibility is a less obvious part of a senior care pharmacist’s duties, but it is part of the services offered. If and when more affordable alternatives are available, a senior pharmacist can inform the patient and work with them to ensure the necessary prescriptions are affordable and effective.
Senior care pharmacists can also assess a patient’s lifestyle and health practices and provide advice on disease prevention. This means that the pharmacist not only observes the patient’s health, but also actively assesses it in order to be able to offer advice and assistance. A senior pharmacist can also suggest lifestyle changes where necessary.
Forgetting to take medications can be a problem for older patients, and senior care pharmacists work with patients to make it easier for them to take medications. Medicines are easier to identify, clearly packaged and labeled, which may involve using larger, easier-to-read labels. The pharmacist may also suggest other ways to organize medication, such as using specialized pill containers.
Pharmacists who specialize in elderly care often work with other healthcare professionals, visiting hospitals and care centers. Patients may also be visited at home if they receive care from a family member or caregiver. Visits are regularly scheduled, usually once a month, to ensure that any changes in the patient’s condition can be addressed quickly.
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