The Need for Better Stewardship of Medication Use in Older Adults

The juncture of an aging population and high prevalence of polypharmacy among older adults creates an urgency for better stewardship of medication use. Gaps in health care allow for medication-related problems to go unrecognized. As pharmacotherapy experts, pharmacists are positioned to address many of these limitations. However, pharmacists must be proactive to address high-risk medication use among community-dwelling older adults and overcome barriers that limit their capabilities to provide patient care in this setting.