Pharmacist-led programs help prevent medication harm in older adults in care facilities

An analysis of published studies indicates that pharmacist-led efforts can reduce medication-related harms—such as cognitive impairment, falls, drug-drug interactions, and bacterial infections—in older adults in residential aged care facilities. The findings are published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

In the analysis of 23 studies, investigators found several pharmacist-led interventions that reduce various medication-related harms in older people permanently living in residential aged care facilities.

The most frequent single-component pharmacist-led intervention involved performing medication reviews with patients and clinicians. Medication reviews and education programs for healthcare professionals were the most common components in multicomponent interventions.