Bringing Medication Support to Elders at Home

A new home visit service at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) is helping elders manage their medications safely and stay connected to care. This project is part of the Indian Health Geriatric Scholars (GeriScholars) Program led by Dr. Hannah Farnham. 

As a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist and recent GeriScholar participant, Hannah has served American Indian and Alaska Native patients for 14 years. At the Mediset Pharmacy, her team serves nearly 1,400 citizens — most of whom are elders.

She and her team saw a growing concern: many elders were missing clinic appointments because of transportation barriers, mobility issues, or memory changes. For patients living with early dementia, even a routine visit could become difficult. The team wanted to reach these elders before medication problems or health complications occurred.

As part of her project with the GeriScholars program, she and the pharmacy team created a plan to expand their services beyond the clinic. The program provided tools, training, and processes to launch dedicated home visits for elders who were struggling to access care.

“This proactive approach let us bridge the gap for vulnerable patients,” Dr. Farnham said. “By contacting them ahead of time and delivering care straight to their doorsteps, we shifted from reactive care to true preventative advocacy.”

Pharmacists provide practical, hands-on support in the home, including:

• Medication review and reconciliation
• Personalized Mediset teaching
• Safe disposal of expired medications

These steps help elders follow their treatment plans, reduce medication mix-ups, and may prevent avoidable hospital visits. The program also reconnects the pharmacy with elders who previously could not receive Mediset support because of transportation, mobility, or cognitive challenges.

The Mediset team plans to continue expanding home visits for older adults who face barriers to care. Dr. Farnham encourages other clinicians to explore the GeriScholars Program. “If you see a gap, this program gives you the tools to close it,” she said. “It helped us build something meaningful for our elders, and it can help others do the same.”

Pictured: Dr. Hannah Farnham is a board-certified psychiatric pharmacist and recent GeriScholar participant.

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Dementia Care Pathway Supports Early Detection and Diagnosis

The Dementia Care Pathway, a step-by-step guide designed with input from IHS, Tribal, and urban Indian health programs, supports early detection, accurate diagnosis, and culturally sensitive communication for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. 

This guide can help care teams take a consistent approach to dementia care.

It includes three main steps:

• Detect
• Evaluate
• Diagnose and Discuss

The resource was shared during an IHS Alzheimer’s Program webinar. You can watch this webinar and use the pathway as a resource in your clinic by visiting the IHS Alzheimer’s Program website.