PHM-02 - Pain for the (Geriatric) Ages: Overcoming the Challenges of Treating Longevity

Overall geriatric care revolves around appropriate examinations, screenings, and diverse treatment plans, which of course can revolve around the infamous “Beers List of Medications” which has had multiple revisions and updates, most recently in 2023, all concentrating on utilizing the safest and most effective medications for our elderly population. Not surprisingly, many pain management medications appear in the targeted medication groups within the “Beers List", thus the impetus for clinician expertise in elderly patient pain management medication treatment selection and dosing. The aging process alone, or combined with untreated pain, can lead to many trickling unfavorable effects (such as impaired cognition, sleep disturbances, reduced function, less social involvement, and an overall reduction in one’s quality of life), yet conversely when pain is inappropriately treated in the elderly, the same if not worse harmful effects present themselves. In essence, pharmacology matters.

Join us as we review the multiple unique facets of providing patient care for elderly patients, with particular attention to the Beers Criteria treatment guidelines. Afterall, hopefully everyone in the audience will eventually, if not already, get to experience geriatric care at some point in life!