Henderson State-Of-The-Art Lecture: Pharmacotherapy for Older Adults: A Historical and Futuristic Look at Progress

Presenter: Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD, FCCP, AGSF

The 1968 Task Force on Prescription Drug Use was the U.S. government’s first ever report on prescription drug use by older adults. Using the Task Force’s findings and recommendations as a beginning, this lecture will chronicle the progress in pharmacotherapy for older adults. Areas of impact include advances in pharmacology, interventions to improve medication use, and the expanded roles and responsibilities of pharmacists. Lastly, a look to the future, and what might be possible. Learning Objectives: (1) Describe how the 1968 Task Force shaped subsequent developments in pharmacotherapy for older adults; (2) Identify major advances in geriatric pharmacology and evidence-based interventions that have improved medication safety, adherence, and outcomes in older adults; and (3) Discuss the evolving and future roles of pharmacists in optimizing medication use for aging populations, including emerging models of care and innovations that may influence geriatric pharmacotherapy.