[Webinar] Do I still need this medication?

Join us for an educational session that will present critical information and explore resources to help older adults ensure the medications they're taking are still necessary, beneficial, and not causing harm.

Medications can help us in many different ways. However, as we age, our bodies become more sensitive to the effects of medications. Some medications we take may even cause more harm than benefit. Learn about safe medication use and essential questions to ask your healthcare professional to help prevent medication harm—for you and those you care for!

Speaker: Lisa Tate

Lisa Tate is a clinical assistant lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Alberta. She has worked as a clinical pharmacist in both inpatient and outpatient settings, including nine years at the Geriatric Evaluation and Management Clinic, St. Albert and Sturgeon Primary Care Network. She has an interest in deprescribing as a tool to rationalize and optimize drug therapy.

What you will learn:

• What medication overload means and why it matters
• Why seniors are at higher risk of medication-related harm
• Practical strategies to prevent medication harm in your province
• Key medication safety resources for older adults and caregivers

The session will equip participants with resources they can share with seniors (which the seniors can then take to health appointments with their healthcare professionals to engage in informed conversations about their medications). It will also promote knowledge around the importance of regular medication reviews. It also promotes the reflex to ask, “when was the last time you had all your medications reviewed?” when support workers and caregivers hear their clients talk about new falls or feeling confused; these are not always simply signs of aging – but can be a sign that changes may need to be made to their medications.

Who is this session for? People supporting older adults and caregivers 

*This session will not train folks to give medication reviews, or to make medication recommendations. Patients should work with their healthcare professionals to do this.

Hosted by: CORE Alberta and Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network  https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca/