Evaluating medication regimens in the elderly.

Medications are probably the single most important health care technology in preventing illness, disability, and death in the geriatric population. The evaluation of the medication regimen is a valuable function of the pharmacist in any practice setting. Important components in the evaluation process include an understanding of medication-related problems in the geriatric patient, risks for medication-related problems in this patient population, information regarding assessment, appropriate prescribing for geriatric patients, and adherence and compliance practices of these patients.