older people
Opioids, benzo use higher in RACFs: study
Polypharmacy more common in residential aged care residents compared to community-dwelling older adults, new whole-of-population study finds A Western Australian study has compared medicines use among adults aged >65 years …
14.5 million PBS scripts in RACFs
Covid antivirals lead in top 10 list of subsidised drugs dispensed in RACFs, by highest cost to government Around 14.5 million PBS prescriptions were dispensed in residential aged care facilities …
New deprescribing guidelines officially launched
Pharmacists can now access new deprescribing guidelines for the top 100 most dispensed PBS medicines for older people A 72-member team of medicines experts and consumer representatives has developed new …
Symptom tracking for on-site pharmacists
An adapted tool could help pharmacists “proactively” monitor medication-related symptoms in older people over time, UniSA researchers have discovered UniSA pharmacist researchers have adapted and tested a tool for assessing …
Type 2 diabetes in older people living in the community
The management of diabetes in older people presents unique challenges due to multiple factors including comorbidities, polypharmacy, frailty, and age-related physiological changes. By Dr Jenny Gowan AM, PhD, Grad Dip …
Constipation in older people
Pharmacists have an important role in determining the potential causes of constipation in older people, and providing advice on the most appropriate treatment options. By Dr Jenny Gowan AM, PhD, …
Low HMR uptake for high-risk cohort
Do HMRs reduce hospitalisations or admissions to long-term care facilities? A new study has closely looked at carefully matched groups to find out A new study of older people receiving …
Turning over a new page
Pharmacist Dr Amy Page named inaugural director of new medicines research centre Two leading pharmacists are at the helm of the newly launched Centre for Optimisation of Medicines, School of …
Top 10 checklist for adverse drug events developed
Experts agree on 10 most important signs and symptoms of psychotropic adverse events to condense into an easy-to-use checklist, with pharmacists “perfectly placed” to help Aged care workers can now …
No ‘golden ticket’ for reducing risky meds harm
High-risk prescribing in aged care residents under the spotlight, as Australian experts weigh in on the role of embedded pharmacists Polypharmacy and the use of potentially inappropriate medicines (PIMs) in …
To dip or not to dip?
A program delivered by pharmacists has seen positive results around reduction of unnecessary urine dipstick testing in aged care homes Pharmacist-led education to support behaviour change around urine dipstick testing …
Both embedded and community pharmacists can reduce risk: expert
Study finds high proportion of older Australians in residential aged care affected by risky prescribing and highly complex regimens… but how can pharmacists help? Both community pharmacists and those embedded …