Elderly People, Their Medicines, and Their Doctors

Originally published in 1988, Ann Cartwright and Christopher Smith looked at the medicines prescribed for, and taken by, a nationally representative sample of elderly people. The experiences and views of both patients (elderly people) and professionals (general practitioners) are examined and related. What is revealed is how much, and how little GPs knew about the social circumstances and medicine taking of their elderly patients. Evaluation of all the prescribed medicines taken shows the extent of elderly people’s knowledge of their medication and identifies duplications, potentially harmful interactions, contraindications, and inappropriate dosages. Recommendations for action to be taken by doctors, pharmacists, medical educators, and elderly people themselves made this book essential reading for all those concerned with the health and welfare of elderly people at the time.