Geriatric Pharmacology: Considerations for Older Adults

As the aging population continues to grow rapidly, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are increasingly responsible for providing complex care to older adults with multiple chronic conditions and unique medication needs. This CE course delivers a comprehensive overview of geriatric pharmacology, emphasizing age-related physiological changes and their implications for pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Older adults often experience altered drug absorption, metabolism, distribution, and excretion, necessitating tailored medication management strategies.

One of the primary concerns in geriatric pharmacology is polypharmacy—the concurrent use of multiple medications—which increases the risk of drug interactions, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), falls, cognitive decline, and hospitalizations. This course explores how to identify and address inappropriate prescribing, undertreatment, and medication nonadherence in older patients.

Participants will learn to apply comprehensive geriatric assessments (CGAs), including evaluations of physical function, cognition, mood, social support, and comorbidity burden. The course stresses the importance of patient-centered care plans and individualized medication regimens that balance therapeutic benefit with safety.

Emphasis is placed on deprescribing strategies, using tools such as the Beers Criteria and STOPP/START guidelines, and recognizing high-risk medications. Additionally, learners will understand the critical role of interprofessional collaboration between nurses, pharmacists, primary care providers, and caregivers to enhance communication and reduce medication-related complications.

Nurse Practitioners will also explore best practices in fostering adherence through shared decision-making, patient education, and behavioral interventions tailored to older adults. This course equips learners with practical tools to navigate the complexity of geriatric pharmacotherapy, ultimately improving patient safety, quality of life, and clinical outcomes in older populations.

Educational Objectives

• Analyze the demographic trends and sociodemographic factors impacting the aging population and their implications on healthcare delivery.
• Evaluate the physiological changes associated with aging and their effects on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and therapeutic interventions.
• Identify and address drug-related problems in older adults, including polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing, and undertreatment, to enhance medication safety.
• Develop strategies for comprehensive geriatric assessment, emphasizing functional, cognitive, and social evaluations to optimize care plans for older adults.
• Implement interprofessional and patient-centered approaches to improve medication adherence, prevent adverse drug reactions, and promote health outcomes in older adults.

Who Should Do This Course?

This CE course is specifically designed for:

• Nurse Practitioners in primary care and geriatric settings.
• Long-Term Care and Home Health Nurses managing older adult populations.
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioners and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialists.
• Hospice, palliative care, and rehabilitation nurses.
• Nurses seeking to enhance their pharmacology and medication safety knowledge.
• Pharmacists involved in medication reconciliation, safety, and geriatric therapy optimization.

Did You Know?

• Older adults (65+) make up 16% of the U.S. population but consume over 40% of all prescription drugs. (CDC, 2023)
• Polypharmacy affects nearly 50% of older adults in the U.S., often leading to preventable hospital admissions. (JAMA, 2021)
• Adverse drug reactions are a leading cause of emergency visits in older adults. (NEJM, 2020)
• Up to 90% of nursing home residents are prescribed at least one potentially inappropriate medication. (AGS Beers Criteria, 2023)
• Effective medication reconciliation and deprescribing can reduce hospital readmissions by over 30%. (BMJ Open, 2022)