By Lisa C. Hutchison, Pharm.D., MPH, FCCP, BCPS and Rebecca B. Sleeper, Pharm.D., FASCP, BCPS

By 2050, the world’s 65-and-older population will double, and the 85 and older population will mushroom fivefold. As the number of older adults surge, so too will the number of medication management challenges pharmacists and other health care providers experience. For the geriatric population, complex cases are often the norm, and providing safe and effective care can mean considering assessments of function and cognition, contacting multiple prescribers, and understanding a patient’s history, beliefs, and care giving situation before making therapeutic decisions.

Fundamentals of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy: An Evidence-Based Approach gives practitioners the information they need to improve outcomes and personalize care for elderly patients. Section 1 explores important foundational concepts such as social and behavioral issues, ethical considerations, biomedical principles of aging, geriatric assessment, and polypharmacy. Section 2 covers common disease states in aging adults, providing evidence-based treatment information as well as helpful tips for minimizing common problems and contending with clinical controversies. Particular attention is given to how treatment can differ along the spectrum of active elderly to frail elderly patients.

Useful features throughout the book guide practitioners in navigating the maze of information required when caring for an older patient. These include:

• Summarized treatment guidelines
• Reviews of the evidence-base
• Special focus on recommendations for frail elderly
• At least one full case study, or more, in each chapter
• Clinical Pearls
• Key Points highlight important information in each chapter
• Key terms and definitions

The demands of an aging population mean a greater understanding of geriatric pharmacotherapy will soon be essential for all health care providers. Fundamentals of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy ensures that you’ll have the information needed to respond appropriately.

ISBN: 978-1-58528-228-9; 2010; 463 pages; softbound