Overview: Pharmacist-Led Interventions for Older Adults
Emerging evidence from a Pharmacy-published study highlights how clinical pharmacists can drive practical, effective care for older adults through community health interventions. The Pharm2Home Initiative, conducted in Solano County, California, tested a pharmacist-led approach to medication management and chronic disease education in real-world community settings. The evaluation covered January 2022 through August 2023, focusing on how MTM (medication therapy management) sessions at community events can improve medication use and disease control for vulnerable seniors.
Why pharmacist-led interventions matter for older adults
America’s aging population faces a high burden of chronic diseases. The National Council on Aging notes that tens of millions of adults are 65+ and many live with one or more chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. Compounding this challenge are health literacy and numeracy barriers—difficulties that can hinder seniors’ ability to manage medications and interpret medical information. Polypharmacy—taking five or more prescription medicines concurrently—is common among adults over 60, creating a clear opportunity for pharmacists to lead practical, accessible interventions in community settings.
The Pharm2Home Approach
In Solano County, the Pharm2Home Initiative mobilized clinical pharmacists to provide MTM services at community events targeting low-income senior housing residents. Eligible participants were 60 years or older with at least one chronic disease. During MTM sessions, pharmacists addressed medication issues such as expired or duplicated medications, incorrect use, and the need for immunizations, while also offering guidance on lifestyle modifications to support disease management. After each consultation, participants reported whether the recommendations were accepted, declined, or modified, reflecting the trust and engagement fostered in a community setting.
Key findings from the pilot
The final analysis included 65 participants (mean age 74.5 years; 70.8% were women). Pharmacist-led MTM identified 118 medication-related issues across the cohort, spanning adverse drug reactions, nonindicated therapies, duplicated prescriptions, and other medication-use problems. Crucially, participants showed strong receptivity to pharmacist recommendations, with many expressing a willingness to escalate their care by sharing recommendations with their clinicians. This willingness underscores the potential for pharmacists to act as trusted care coordinators in older adults’ health journeys.
Implications for practice
These early results suggest that pharmacist-led MTM, when delivered in accessible community settings, can enhance older adults’ understanding of their conditions and improve medication management—especially in underserved populations. Given literacy and digital-literacy barriers among older adults, pharmacists can tailor explanations, simplify dosing information, and help patients navigate the healthcare system, bridging gaps between patients and primary-care providers.
Limitations and future research
The study is a single-arm, post-intervention evaluation with a relatively small sample size. Long-term impacts on health outcomes and chronic-disease control remain to be determined. Nevertheless, the findings point to the practicality and promise of expanding pharmacists’ roles through MTM and pharmacist-led community health programs, particularly for vulnerable seniors who face barriers to conventional care.
Conclusion
Pharmacist-led community health interventions, exemplified by the Pharm2Home Initiative, offer a feasible path to better medication use and chronic disease management for older adults. While further research is needed to confirm long-term benefits, this model represents a meaningful step toward broader, more equitable access to pharmacist-driven care in community settings.
