Senior Services Pharmacist Expert Help Manage Drug Interactions in Aging Seniors
December 22, 2006 (PRLEAP.COM) Health News
Workingcaregiver.com now offers a Pharmacist Expert helping seniors manage drug interactions promoting health, disease prevention, and wellness. The latest resource for seniors and anyone who cares for aging seniors are directed to go to Ask the Elder Care Pharmacist released by Workingcaregiver.com. A senior care pharmacist specializing in geriatric drug therapy and how it relates to adverse drug reactions answers questions and concerns.An important goal of therapy is the achievement of the highest level of functioning possible. Senior care pharmacists apply their clinical competence, observational skills, and assessment expertise to ensure that the senior patient’s medication regimen is not contributing to incontinence, falls, confusion, memory loss and/or insomnia which can lead to loss of independence and functional ability, nursing facility placement, physician visits and death.
When helping her dad manage Alzheimer’s medications, Carol Marak, Founder of Workingcaregiver.com discovered upsetting news. The Senior Care Pharmacist warned that the medications her dad takes, if combined with a specific pain reliever that was distributed by the nursing home staff, could block the prescribed Alzheimer’s drug effectiveness. Hearing this, she decided to add the service for other seniors who take medications. “It’s better to be sure about drug effectiveness and if they’re (prescription drugs) interfering with other health related issues before severe problems arise. Workingcaregiver.com has information on elder care, so the senior care pharmacist is one more step toward first-rate elder care services.”
Seniors have more chronic diseases and multiple conditions so they use more prescription and over the counter drugs. Therefore drug interactions are rising. It’s an increasing dilemma in America that seniors are taking inappropriate medications for older persons, are not aware which medications to avoid when certain diseases are present, and when medicine hurts instead of helps.
Medicine is serious business. And taking medication is not always as easy as just swallowing a pill. It can involve many steps and decisions each day. In order to make the best use of your prescription drugs, it is important to take an active role in decisions about your treatment, to follow that treatment plan as prescribed by the doctor, and to watch out for problems and get help in solving them.
Senior care pharmacists are specialists in geriatric drug therapy and the unique medication related needs of seniors. They can identify and prevent medication related problems through careful evaluation and monitoring of patients’ drug regimens. The senior care pharmacist is your own personal health care consultant and can be found anywhere there’s a need for high-level medication management. They help fine-tune drug therapy so the caregiver, grandmother, father, neighbor can get the best possible results. Senior care pharmacists are dedicated to helping people live better and longer lives.
For your medication management questions and concerns, go to http://www.workingcaregiver.com click on Ask the Elder Care Expert and select Pharmacist. We’re hoping to protect senior health and quality of life by preventing medication related problems.