This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Higbee, M. D. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The Geriatric Patient and Long-term Care: An Opportunity and Challenge for Pharmacy

Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721

A significant interest in the elderly population has occurred over the last decade as evidenced by the increase in journals, journal articles, books, and research regarding the aged patient. This explosion of data concerning the elderly is essential since our educational background in disease process and therapy is generally learned from the young adult perspective. Additionally, the elderly patient represents a high-risk patient to health care professionals for a variety of reasons: (1) the elderly person has in many cases multiple chronic diseases; (2) has complicated, multiple drug regimens; (3) has an increased incidence of adverse drug reactions compared to younger adults; (4) exhibits atypical presenting symptoms of disease and adverse drug reactions; (5) is at risk for iatrogenic disease; and (6) is neglected generally due to negative stereotypical attitudes held by health care professionals. The elderly population, however, represents an opportunity for pharmacy services due to the increasing numbers of elderly, the opportunity to provide new, nontraditional, and innovative services, as well as the emergence of new practice areas of health care delivery for our elderly. Additionally, there is a need to enhance educational experiences in long-term care and conduct geriatric and gerontologic research in these settings.

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 1, No. 3, 156-160 (1988)
DOI: 10.1177/089719008800100302


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?