Geriatric medicine

Pharmacy at home: service for frail older patients demonstrates medicines risk reduction and admission avoidance

The Exeter Cluster Pharmacy team is part of an integrated community health and social care service, providing domiciliary medicines optimisation to around 145,000 people.…

Medication underuse reduces quality of life among older patients

More than 70% of older patients potentially miss out on the drugs they need and these prescribing omissions are associated with a decreased quality of life, according to new research.…

Refer-to-pharmacy scheme wins HSJ patient safety award

An electronic referral system that allows hospital patients to be referred to their community pharmacist when they leave hospital has won a Health Service Journal patient safety award.…

Dementia care: an overview of available non-pharmacological therapies

A summary of non-pharmacological therapies for patients with dementia that may be used alongside licensed medicines.…

Reducing medication discrepancies in elderly patients

Older patients are more susceptible to harm from polypharmacy and transfer between care settings can result in medication discrepancies. To address this issue Birmingham South Central Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in partnership with NHS Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit, cond…

Identifying patients at high risk of having a fall

People aged 65 years and over have the highest risk of falling, with 30% of people aged over 65 years and 50% of people aged over 80 years falling at least once a year. Falls and fall-related injuries are a common and serious problem for older people. Falling has an impact not only on quality o…

A link between tequila and osteoporosis

Researchers in Mexico have raised the possibility of a new treatment for osteoporosis based on an extract from the plant that is the source of Mexico’s well known spirit drink, tequila.…

Morning flu vaccination may enhance immune response

Older patients who received an influenza vaccination in the morning produced a larger concentration of antibodies compared with those given the vaccination in the afternoon, study shows.…

Healthy living advice for elderly patients

Pharmacists, particularly community pharmacists, have much contact with the public, especially older people. I have read the book ‘Sod Seventy!’ by the senior medical figure Sir Muir Gray. SAGA magazine publicised his advice in January 2016. I suggest that pharmacists consider shari…

Collecting “ologists” and drugs: how pharmacists can assist with management of elderly patients’ medicines

Many patients find their medication regimen become more complex as they get older. Pharmacists can help them better manage their medicines.…