Geriatric patients??

[endlesslove]

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I was wondering if anybody in this forum works with the elderly, whether you're a pre-pharmacy student or pharmacy student. Why do you enjoy working with that population of people and or why do you prefer working with them as opposed to people of other age-groups?

 

[OoShimmeroO]

it's difficult talking on the phone with them b/c you have to talk loud and you keep having to repeat yourself. However, in person, most of them are really sweet.

 

[dgroulx]

The pharmacy I interned at over the summer dealt with lots of elderly patients. We were the only pharmacy in the area to deliver medicine to the assisted living facilities, so we had lots of patients. I got to go on deliveries once, which was different for a change. Lots of elderly patients also came into the pharmacy. These people see many different doctors and have many different prescriptions. One doctor might start them on one thing and discontinue something else. Sometimes they would get out of a rehab center and the doctor there would prescribe all sorts of meds that they didn't need to take. Very few of these people had children who lived in the area and could take the time to watch out for them. The rest depended on the pharmacist.

We also delivered shampoo, Depends, paper towels, etc to residents of the ALFs. I got a call from NY from the daughter of a woman with Alzeimers, who kept ordering shampoo because she thought she was out. The daughter said that there were about 20 bottles when she came down to check on her.

All in all, you have to have a lot of patience, but I found it to be very rewarding. I'm hoping to get a geriatric rotation next year.

 

[endlesslove]

The pharmacy I interned at over the summer dealt with lots of elderly patients. We were the only pharmacy in the area to deliver medicine to the assisted living facilities, so we had lots of patients. I got to go on deliveries once, which was different for a change. Lots of elderly patients also came into the pharmacy. These people see many different doctors and have many different prescriptions. One doctor might start them on one thing and discontinue something else. Sometimes they would get out of a rehab center and the doctor there would prescribe all sorts of meds that they didn't need to take. Very few of these people had children who lived in the area and could take the time to watch out for them. The rest depended on the pharmacist.

We also delivered shampoo, Depends, paper towels, etc to residents of the ALFs. I got a call from NY from the daughter of a woman with Alzeimers, who kept ordering shampoo because she thought she was out. The daughter said that there were about 20 bottles when she came down to check on her.

All in all, you have to have a lot of patience, but I found it to be very rewarding. I'm hoping to get a geriatric rotation next year.

so specifically why did you enjoy working with them that made you want to get a geriatric rotation next yr? 👍

 

[dgroulx]

so specifically why did you enjoy working with them that made you want to get a geriatric rotation next yr? 👍

They are on lots of meds, most of them can't tell you which one is for what. They just get prescriptions and take their drugs. I counseled some patients who couldn't afford to pay for all of them.

Most of these people are alone and virtually ignored by their children who now have their own families. They really appreciate it when someone cares about them and takes time with them. It makes me feel good to help these people.

 

[vafcarrot]

I enjoy working with the elderly because I'm constantly thinking about how much I am impacting their lives with a smile and a kind word. I go and make deliveries to some of these folks and when I knock on their door and walk in, they'll just be sitting there, staring at the wall. It makes me wonder how many hours a day they spend doing that. So, I enjoy just talking to them and getting to know them and all that jazz.

Another thing that I've found sort of impactful it that these people can be in so much pain and we can ease that at least somewhat.