))
Pharmacists as partners in healthy ageing
Manage episode 522190904 series 3571534
Your local pharmacist does more than dispense medication. They can help you age well, stay out of hospital, and manage chronic conditions with confidence. In this episode, Coral speaks with Professor Trent Toomey, National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, about the once-in-a-century transformation underway in community pharmacy. From expanded clinical services to home medication reviews and vaccination leadership, pharmacists are stepping up as frontline partners in healthy ageing.
Trent shares how pharmacists across Australia are retraining to diagnose and treat conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and COPD, especially in communities where access to GPs is limited. He explains how the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Repatriation PBS (RPBS) work, including safety nets, concession cards, and the impact of 60-day dispensing. It’s a hopeful, energising conversation that reframes pharmacists as proactive, accessible allies in aged care.
In this episode:
- The Pharmacy Guild represents 6,000 community pharmacies across Australia
- Community pharmacy is evolving into a holistic health hub
- Pharmacists are retraining to expand their scope of practice
- Comparison with nursing’s evolution and scope expansion
- Community pharmacies are often the only health access point in rural areas
- Short-term concession cards available via Centrelink
- Home Medicines Review explained
- Residential Medication Management Review (RMMR) for aged care facilities
- The pros and cons of 60-day dispensing for elderly patients
- Importance of pharmacist monitoring post-hospital discharge
- Community pharmacists now lead vaccination delivery in Australia
- Pharmacy Board of Australia to list pharmacists with extra qualifications
Resources mentioned:
- Pharmacy vaccination services
- Facebook - find a pharmacy
Connect with Trent Twomey and the Pharmacy Guild:
- LinkedIn - Trent Twomey
- Facebook - Trent Twomey
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia website
- LinkedIn - Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- Facebook - Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Connect with Coral Wilkinson:
Follow See Me Aged Care Navigators:
More about Your Aged Care Compass podcast:
Do you support an older loved one at home and you're ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is for you.
We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.
Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.
Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is the client care manager for our business.
Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. When we eventually needed extra support, we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well. We knew what programs could assist us and our parents.
Your Aged Care Compass podcast brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home.
We'll help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system and bring you topics related to ageing as well. Legal, financial, health, forward planning and more.
Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones.
Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.
Mentioned in this episode:
Pharmacy Guild
71 episodes
Share
