POLYPHARMACY IN THE ELDERLY AND THE ROLE OF THE DIETITIAN
Polypharmacy is commonly defined as using multiple medications for one or more conditions. Typically, is it defined as taking five to ten medications. The more medications a person takes the greater the chances are of experiencing a food-drug or drug-drug interaction. According to the CDC, adverse drug events are responsible for ~1.3 million emergency department visits each year. Ensuring medications are used only when necessary, not duplicated, and taken as prescribed is critical to decrease the change of drug interactions or interference with nutrient absorption. In this webinar, you will learn what you need to know to care for elderly patients who may be experiencing the impacts of polypharmacy. You will learn the impact of pharmacotherapy on nutrition and metabolism, the role of the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist working with elderly clients taking multiple medications, and how to communicate with other members of the health care team about these issues. This course will break down potential changes associated with aging like malnutrition, unintentional weight loss, and dysphagia, that can be exacerbated by polypharmacy. The financial impact of taking multiple medications will be weighed in light of limited resources and nutrient needs. Finally, you will review screening tools used with the elderly population and consider Sandy, a 78-year-old female taking 14 medications and determine what can be done to improve her health status.
Upon successful completion of this one-hour course, the participant should be able to:
- Apply knowledge of the impact of prescription and over-the-counter medications to nutrient absorption, utilization and metabolism.
- Evaluate the interrelationship and impact of pharmacotherapy on nutrient absorption.
- Identify nutrition education strategies to effectively address polypharmacy issues.
- Recommend appropriate use of vitamin and mineral supplements for specific client populations.
Live Event Date:
Jan 13, 2022
Expiration Date:
May 31, 2024
Performance Indicators/Learning Objectives: 10.4.1, 10.4.2, 10.4.3, 10.4.4
Target Audience: RDs, DTRs, Health Professionals
Total Cost:
1 Site Credit
About the Presenter: Nina Roofe, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND
Nina Roofe has been a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for 30 years. Throughout her career, Nina has served as a clinical dietitian in outpatient, inpatient, and consultant settings in Arkansas and Oklahoma. She has taught dietetics students since 2002 and is currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition & Family Sciences.
Nina received the undergraduate degree in Dietetics from the University of Central Arkansas, and completed the dietetic internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. While directing the Outpatient Nutrition Clinic at St. Francis Health System in Tulsa, she completed the Master of Science degree from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in Corporate Health Promotion. Nina earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Iowa State University.
Her research is focused on the impact of service learning on knowledge integration and specifically interprofessional educational strategies. Others areas of research include leadership development and appreciative inquiry. Dr. Roofe is a member of the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Board, is certified by the American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences as a Nutrition and Wellness Educator (CNWE), and is serving a three-year term on the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Ethics Committee.
