The number of people over the age of 65 in the UK is 10 million €“ a figure that is expected to double by 2050. This means that around 1,000 patients in the area of your pharmacy could be over the age of 65, which could increase to 2,000 within around 30 years €“ a significant proportion of your customer base. Older people, like all of your customers, have a broad range of healthcare needs.

Many of these will not be specific to old age, although physiology and organ systems tend to deteriorate as the years go by, leading to health issues. There is much that the pharmacy team can offer older people and their families and carers in terms of healthcare. Prescriptions and medicines management services spring immediately to mind, but simple advice like the benefits of eating healthily, not smoking, cutting back on drinking alcohol (if appropriate), taking physical activity and ensuring the home is safe from obstacles that could increase the risk of falls and injuries, is just as important.

Apart from these obvious health-related issues, remember the importance of mental health, social contacts, perhaps doing a little voluntary work and so on, all of which can enhance health in old age. Be prepared to think about and give information to older people on these matters too. Perhaps you know some older people quite well €“ maybe family and friends €“ so you will already have plenty of experience.

One of the important things is to be very positive with older people. Provide a positive service and treat them with respect €“ as you would every customer. Remember that their prescriptions could be a significant source of income for the pharmacy and your job depends on every customer in the pharmacy and your good relationship with them.

As our feature emphasises, try not to stereotype older people. People aged 85 could be best-selling authors, farmers or shop owners and they can be a great inspiration to your team as you go about your daily work and life. Older people can often be great listeners and great storytellers and it can be a great privilege to be put in touch with life and experiences from an era before you were born.

Those who are leading the Team Tuesday training will find accompanying learning prompts and teaching notes here.