The community pharmacist and dispensing in the elderly

Abstract

In the last years, life expectancy has substantially increased. Similar to trends in other European countries, the number of elderly in Malta is sharply on the increase in an otherwise stable population. From data obtained from the demographic review, in 1989, 14% of the population was over 60 years of age and by the first quarter of the next century, the elderly will constitute 23.8% of the Maltese population. (Figure 1). The elderly are being encouraged and supported to remain as much as possible in their habitual environment, in their town or village, rather than adopt to move into a large impersonal institution. In this way the elderly will acquire a healthy balance within the family unit, its extensions in the neighbourhood and take a more active role in various sectors of society. This creates special needs within the community and an adequate support system has to be developed. This presents new challenges to the community pharmacist - a vital member of 'the Primary Health Care Team.