Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society

Learn how to talk—and listen—to your elderly clients

Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society examines the aspects of aging that transcend physical and biological changes, addressing practical concerns such as communication, understanding values, and end-of-life issues. This unique book provides pharmacists with the basics on how to enhance their service to the elderly and offers additional suggestions for improving the empathy and understanding they have for their patients. The book explores general health and pharmacy concerns of the elderly, including abuse, neglect, sexuality, stress, and addictions, and presents methods of helping seniors stay healthy through exercise and with appropriate interventions. 34 figures, tables, and exhibits make complex information easy to access and understand.

Fewer than five percent of persons over 65 end up in a nursing home, and many stay only long enough to recover or rehabilitate before returning home. The other 95 percent need our attention and our care. Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society helps pharmacists develop the special tools they need to deal with the elderly, identifying the most challenging areas, and providing effective frameworks for addressing them. The book also includes sidebars that summarize important ideas, including:

• “Communication”—choosing the right words when delivering difficult or even unwelcome information to patients
  
• “Ethics on the Spot”—anticipating difficult questions and determining if information is appropriate to pass along to a patient
  
• “Statistics at a Glance”—comparative statistics presented in a way that makes a point
  
• “Cutting Edge”—current research findings and what they mean to your patients
  
• “Too Late Now”—when changing a patient’s behavior or adding a medication is unlikely to help
  
• “Then and Now”—compares past treatment and approaches with current ones
  
• and much more!

Pharmacy Practice in an Aging Society is an essential resource for community and hospital pharmacists, educators, and anyone else with an interest in health.