Prescribing for institutionalised older people

Abstract

Introduction: In order to investigate aspects of prescribing practice and drug administration in institutionalised older people, the following aims for the study were developed; -- To compare prescribing practices between the four selected long-stay institutions for older people; -- To introduce guidelines for the administration of medicines, in tandem with an educational programme for staff; -- To compare prescribing practices following this intervention, with particular reference to those drugs that have been identified as having implications for the quality of life for older people; -- To compare medication costs before and after the intervention; -- To compare prescribing patterns among the elderly residents in long-term care institutions with a similar cohort of older people, matched by gender and age, and resident in the community.