Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
America is aging, and with that demographic shift comes challenges and opportunities for the pharmacy profession. Many older adults live with multiple chronic conditions and face mounting barriers to care. For these patients, the health care system can feel fragmented and overwhelming. Yet in communities across the country, pharmacists are quietly holding the system together. By seeing patients more frequently than any other health professional, pharmacists are identifying problems early, simplifying therapy, and serving as a consistent presence in patients’ lives.
This month’s Pharmacy Today cover story explores opportunities for pharmacists to help older adults navigate cost barriers, optimize therapy, and make informed decisions that balance longevity, safety, and quality of life. Chronic care in older adulthood is fundamentally different. Nearly 80% of adults over 65 years have two or more chronic conditions, and polypharmacy is the norm rather than the exception, with half of older adults taking at least five or more medications daily. Fragmentation of care further magnifies these risks, especially in rural communities where access to physicians and specialists is limited. Older adults living in these areas often turn to their pharmacist first. Innovative programs in North Dakota and Kentucky demonstrate how pharmacists are stepping up to complete elements of Medicare wellness visits, screen for social determinants of health, and identify potentially inappropriate medications.
In this issue of Today, you’ll also find a review of counseling points for OTCs in older adults, the latest on folate supplementation, and an update on treating migraine in children. Dig into new guidance for RSV vaccination and learn how upcoming Medicare changes will affect GLP-1 pricing. Catch up on your latest CPE with this month’s review of recent key developments in pharmacy law.
Whether conducting fall-risk assessments, deprescribing high-risk medications, reviewing therapy after a fall, or delivering medications directly to patients’ homes, pharmacists are aligning care with the realities of aging. These services may take only minutes, but their impact is lasting. As the population continues to age, we will remain essential partners in chronic care to ensure older adults are safer, supported, and able to live well in the communities they call home. ■