The Icelandic Federation of Senior Citizens (LEB) hosted a seminar entitled “Lyfjasúpan” (“The Medication Soup”) at Hotel Reykjavík Askja, focusing on medication use among older people and how to promote appropriate medication management, better follow-up and improved quality of life.
A diverse group of experts addressed the topic from different perspectives. Discussions covered polypharmacy, medication tapering, the risk of falls, appropriate use of medicines, the role of pharmacists, and medication management in nursing homes. Kjartan Þórsson, physician and founder of Prescriby Health, spoke specifically about medication tapering programmes, their implementation and outcomes.
One of the key messages from the seminar was the importance of regularly reviewing medication treatments among older people. It was also striking to see the strong consensus among the many experts who presented at the event. As people grow older, the number of medicines they use often increases, which can also increase the risk of adverse effects, drug interactions and other challenges associated with polypharmacy.
Regular medication reviews provide an opportunity to assess whether each medicine is still necessary, whether dosages remain appropriate and whether the overall treatment continues to serve the individual’s needs and best interests. The objective is not to reduce the number of medicines at all costs, but rather to ensure the right medication at the right time, with safety, effectiveness and quality of life at the forefront.
The seminar therefore highlighted an important issue for the healthcare system: medication treatment should not be viewed as a decision that is made once and then left unchanged. It should be followed up and reassessed regularly as a person’s age, health and individual needs evolve.
Frumtök congratulates the Icelandic Federation of Senior Citizens on a successful and highly relevant seminar. The photo shows Alma D. Möller, Minister of Health, delivering the opening address.