Today is a reminder to celebrate the wisdom, experience, and contributions of our elders. But beyond celebration, it’s also a call to focus on their healthcare needs.
With ageing, conditions like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and dementia become common. Polypharmacy (taking multiple medicines) increases the risk of drug interactions and side effects. Elderly often need more patient counseling, regular monitoring, and emotional support.
As healthcare professionals, we have a responsibility to ensure that age does not become a barrier to quality healthcare.
How can we make healthcare more elder-friendly?What role can pharmacists and doctors play in reducing polypharmacy risks?
A small step to making healthcare more elder friendly could be to take care in explaining their conditions to them and revising their prescriptions on a routine basis. Also, taking too much medication can prove exhausting for the elderly, so keeping track of details in their health records to deprescribe excessive medication can also bring them relief and reassurance.
This reminds us that a senior is always a senior it doesn’t matter what they achieved in their life so the only thing I learn about seniors is that we have to respect them and respect every elder
With ageing, conditions like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, and dementia become common.