More Elderly Residents Seeking Medication Advice at No-Cost Events
More elderly California residents are attending no-cost "Meet the Pharmacist" events to seek advice about their health and prescription medication, HealthyCal reports.
About the Events
The events are organized by a network of groups focused on issues relevant to elderly residents.
Participants are able to receive consultation from a pharmacist outside pharmacy settings. Individuals can receive advice about their prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, drug side effects and whether they should seek further counsel from a physician.
The events also offer presentations on health topics such as how to use medication wisely and how to prevent unnecessary falls.
Growing Demand
Organizers said demand for the events is growing.
The popularity of the events has increased as the state continues to grapple with economic challenges, high unemployment and budget cuts.
Stephen Shortell, dean of the School of Public Health at UC-Berkeley, said that as people live longer, the number of chronic health conditions such as depression and congestive heart failure has increased. The number of medications that people take also has increased, he said.
That means the role pharmacists play in patient care has become more important, according to Shortell (Clock, HealthyCal, 11/2).
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