RACFs need in-house pharmacists

PROVIDING patients living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) with access to on-site pharmacy services will improve care, researchers believe.

Results from the ReMInDAR trial, published in Age and Ageing, found that having pharmacists meet residents on a regular basis ensured medication-related issues were addressed, but also allowed for monitoring of patients’ cognitive and physical health.

The randomised controlled study, involving 248 patients, found that while there was no statistically significant difference for change in frailty between the intervention and control groups, “there was a significant difference in the change in cognition scores from baseline, favouring the intervention”.

Lead reseacher, University of South Australia’s, Professor Libby Roughead, said the study showed the need for additional pharmaceutical support in RACFs, with pharmacists making 309 recommendations to change residents’ medications, advising reductions in medicine use for close to two-thirds of residents.

“Medicines are the most prescribed health intervention for older people, yet they’re also the catalyst for concern for many agedcare residents,” she said.

“People living in aged-care homes rely on the support and care they receive yet previously, residents have only received a medication review every two years or earlier if required.

“Our research highlights the need for personalised and continuing support by pharmacists more frequently.”

Roughead added that while Federal Government funding announced for on-site pharmacists was a step forward, she added the move should encompass holistic pharmaceutical support, with pharmacists focused on efforts to reduce harm from medicines.