Geriatrics Pathway
Faculty
- Melody Ryan, Pharm.D., CGP, BCPS, Pathway Coordinator
- Holly Divine, Pharm.D., CGP, CDE
- Additional faculty as listed in suggested course work.
What is Geriatric Pharmacy?
Geriatric pharmacists, also known as senior care pharmacists, are essential participants in the health care system, recognized and valued for the practice of pharmaceutical care for the senior population (those age 65 and older) and people with chronic illness. Geriatric pharmacy practice ensures that the pharmacist acquires the specific components of knowledge and competencies required to care for the person age 65 and over. The pharmacist should also be well versed in the practice-related issues relevant to this area, including payment/ reimbursement, long-term care nomenclature, and government regulations.
Senior Care Pharmacy Facts:
- Today there are 38 million seniors in the United States; by 2030 that number will rise to 75 million.
- Every day in the United States another 6,000 people reach the age of 65.
- There are 5.5 million seniors with long-term disabilities in the United States. This figure is expected to increase to 10 million by the year 2020, and to 20 million by 2040.
- Life expectancy at age 85 has increased 24 percent since 1960. U.S. Census Bureau estimates project that life expectancy will increase another 44 percent by 2040, with an accompanying increase in the incidence of chronic conditions such as hip fracture and Alzheimer's disease.
- Adverse drug reactions are among the top five greatest threats to the health of seniors.
- 28 percent of hospitalizations among seniors are due to adverse drug reactions.
- 32,000 seniors suffer hip fractures each year due to falls caused by medication-related problems.
- The elderly account for 12.7 percent of the U.S. population but consume approximately 34 percent of total prescriptions.
- On average, individuals 65 to 69 years old take nearly 14 prescriptions per year; individuals aged 80 to 84 take an average of 18 prescriptions per year.
Senior Care Pharmacy
While medications are probably the single most important factor in improving the quality of life for older Americans, the nation's seniors are especially at risk for medication-related problems due to physiological changes of aging, higher incidence of multiple chronic diseases and conditions, and greater consumption of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
The economic impact of medication-related problems in people over the age of 65 now rivals that of Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Medication-related problems are estimated to be one of the top five causes of death in that age group and is a major cause of confusion, depression, falls, disability and loss of independence.
Senior care pharmacists are committed to caring for the well-being of each individual, taking into account the complex interrelationships between disease states, nutrition, medications and other variables. They are essential players on the health care team, and influential decision-makers in all aspects of drug therapy - the mainstay of treatment for older individuals with chronic diseases and conditions. Senior care pharmacists counsel patients, provide information and recommendations to prescribers (and may be prescribers themselves) and caregivers, review patients' drug regimens, present in-service educational programs, and oversee medication distribution services.
In addition to these basic responsibilities, senior care pharmacists provide a wide range of other primary care services to the nation's seniors, including pain management, counseling, pharmacokinetic dosing services, intravenous therapy, nutrition assessment and support, and durable medical equipment.
For millions of senior citizens and individuals with chronic illnesses, senior care pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring optimal drug therapy. In their role as medication therapy experts, they take responsibility for their patients' medication-related needs; ensure that their patients' medications are the most appropriate, the most effective, the safest possible and are used correctly; and identify, resolve and prevent medication-related problems that may interfere with the goals of therapy. These pharmacists manage and improve drug therapy and improve the quality of life of the senior population and other individuals residing in a variety of environments, including hospitals, nursing facilities, sub-acute care and assisted-living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs and home- and community-based care.
The groundbreaking Fleetwood Project, the preliminary results of which were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, provides a clear picture of the enormous impact of consultant pharmacist services in achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes and reducing medication-related problems. The Fleetwood study found that consultant pharmacists' drug regimen review services in the nation's nursing facilities improve therapeutic outcomes by 43 percent and save as much as $3.6 billion annually in costs associated with medication-related problems.
Why pursue the Geriatric Pharmacy Pathway?
The percentage of our population that is age 65 and older is growing from 13 percent now to an anticipated 20-25 percent by the year 2025. The age group 85-plus is the fastest-growing segment of our society. Pharmacotherapy targeted at prolonging functional life and improving quality of our aging years is exploding and will continue at a rapid pace. Geriatric patients will be the majority of patients encountered in almost all practice areas of pharmacy for this generation of pharmacists. A pharmacist who has received additional training in this area will provide better care and may enjoy superior practice opportunities upon graduation.
Additionally, those who pursue the geriatric pharmacy pathway are eligible to apply for the Gerontology Certificate Program through Sanders-Brown Center on Aging (discussed in detail below). This certificate, suitable for framing, is a multidisciplinary program that can be completed either by graduation or within three years afterwards. Certification in gerontology is highly marketable in many pharmacy settings and provides additional credibility in the area of senior patient care. Completion of certification in gerontology will be noted at graduation.