PHM352H1: Pharmacotherapy in Older Adults

14L/12T

Growth in the proportion of the population over age 65 is expected to place significant demands on the health care system. Pharmacists must be prepared to manage the pharmacotherapy of older patients in order to achieve optimal individual and health system outcomes. This 26-hour selective course will prepare students for their future roles in geriatric practice through the development of specific competencies in the knowledge and application of pharmaceutical care for older adults. This course will cover demographics, biology and pathophysiology of aging, socioeconomics, ethical issues, and beliefs and barriers regarding health care and medication use in older individuals. Communication issues, unique needs of caring for seniors, and barriers to medication taking will also be addressed. Specific pharmacotherapy of conditions prevalent in the elderly, including movement disorders, dementia, urinary incontinence, and specific drug-induced illnesses and adverse events will be covered. This course will rely on both didactic and case-based discussions to demonstrate and enable students to develop skills integral to patient assessment and optimizing drug therapy in the older adult with complicated diseases and medication history.