It's estimated that 39 percent of people over 65 now use at least five or more medications, an increase of 70 percent over the past 10 years. "Today, with medications, we can treat a lot of chronic diseases that we were unable to manage 10, 15 or 20 years ago. We can manage chronic diseases and people are living longer. That’s the plus side. But on the negative side," says pharmacist Coleen Kayden, "there are a lot of medications that are being used … and unfortunately a lot of these medications aren’t always compatible with each other, or with an aging individual."

COLEEN KAYDEN is a 1978 graduate of the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and has been a staff and consultant pharmacist for Williams Apothecary, Lancaster, Pa., since 1986. Her responsibilities include consultant work for several long-term care facilities in Lancaster County, Pa., as well as Hospice of Lancaster County. She is a past President of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association and a member in good standing of the American Pharmacists Association, the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists and the National Community Pharmacists’ Association. She has been involved in presentations on the local, state and national level concerning pain management, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.