Geriatric Pharmacology: A Complex World of Choices

It is expected that by 2050 Americans 65 or older will be almost 89 million or more and then more than double the number of older adults in the United States in 2010 [1]. While elders make up less than 13% of the U.S. population, they have become the leading drug consumers [2]. With the increasing aging population, this number will increase dramatically over the next 30 years, necessitating a larger focus on geriatric medication issues and an increase in geriatric-competent clinicians to ensure optimal care. Identifying, preventing, and resolving medication-related problems will become increasingly important to the stability of our healthcare system and welfare.