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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Druggists specialize in caring for seniors

By: Daniella Ponticelli

Posted: 04/21/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

MANITOBA seniors who take multiple medications can receive one-on-one medication reviews and assessments by a senior-care pharmacist -- but there are only six in the province.

Popular in the United States, these specialized pharmacists work with doctors, drugstore pharmacists and other health-care professionals to simplify and make the most of a patient's medicine regimen.

"(Community) pharmacists do a good job explaining the directions initially," said Mathilda Prinsloo, a senior-care pharmacist. "But if you say to a patient, 'Take a tablet once a day,' well, when in the day?"

Prinsloo, one of six accredited senior-care pharmacists in Manitoba, is the only independent consultant in the province. She does in-house visits at a fee, and said she listens to "the patient's understanding of what the medication does, how to take it and what the patient's expectation is."

"Aging changes certain areas in our bodies and that changes how the body handles medication," said Prinsloo. "We identify common age-related health problems that are difficult to diagnose and are often overlooked and considered the normal cause of aging when it is medication-related or actually needs further assessment."

Statistics Canada reported on medicine use among seniors in 2009. Using data from 2005, it found pharmacists dispensed 35 prescriptions per person for those aged 60 to 79, and 74 per person aged 80 or older.

And not all of the medication is effective, Prinsloo said. Sometimes too much, too little or not the right type of drugs are prescribed. Prinsloo said many seniors take medications that are not suitable and don't take their medication as prescribed, if at all.

"There is vision loss, dexterity problems and cognitive problems," said Prinsloo. "Sometimes it is difficult to remember, too complex or it's inconvenient. Patient education... and follow-up are very important."

Christopher Louizos, pharmacy-practice instructor at the University of Manitoba, noted many pharmacy interactions he's seen and been a part of have been "pharmacist-initiated."

"If a patient requires attention you make the time, and from my experience, pharmacists do make the time," said Louizos.

Some community pharmacists, such as Louizos, hold clinics in pharmacies or in seniors' homes, ranging from ask-a-pharmacist days to checking blood pressure and helping people stop smoking. Sometimes, the clinics offer assessments. "To complete a comprehensive assessment takes 45 minutes, but a pharmaceutical care plan for a specific patient can take several hours," said Louizos, adding all graduating pharmacists have extensive training in interviewing and creating care plans.

"I think it's important for pharmacists to identify patients who require a comprehensive review versus those who can be assisted in a short period of time," said Louizos, adding some community drugstores fill 300 prescriptions a day. "Seeing a specialist is great -- but don't discount our community pharmacists."

For those who need a place to discuss their medications, the University of Manitoba has a medication line, (204) 474-6493, open Monday to Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

daniella.ponticelli@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 21, 2012 B4

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