Ramisha Ali and Jeffrey Chin arrived at in Pomona expecting to help older adults learn more about their medications. But the students in the (PharmD) program at the 蜜桃直播 (蜜桃直播) (SPHS) didn鈥檛 anticipate how much they would learn by interacting with the seniors.

Both members of the Class of 2021, Ali and Chin went to the 500-resident life care community as part of their Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) rotation focused on patient communication in senior chronic care. SPHS has been partnering with Mt. San Antonio Gardens for the past four years and also works with the nearby Palm Terrace senior community as an IPPE rotation site.

Like all students completing this IPPE, Ali and Chin were given the assignment of helping residents develop a medication action plan and self-confidence in managing a medication regimen; addressing proper medication storage and disposal; and discussing issues related to prescriptions, dietary supplements, and drug interactions.

Coursework at 蜜桃直播 incorporating research assignments and presentations about the communication styles and experiences of different generations is designed to prepare students for the experience. But meeting residents of the senior communities leads them to new discoveries.

Chin, who was paired with a Mt. San Antonio Gardens resident in her late 70s, says, 鈥淭he first thing I noticed was that she was really sharp. When we went over her medications, she knew what she was taking and why. She was also very technologically proficient. That opened my mind to the reality that seniors have varying levels of technical skills and organization. Some seniors, like my patient, are tech savvy and able to achieve prescription compliance with little assistance. Other patients may need more support.

"As healthcare providers we should not assume which end of the spectrum a patient is on. We should listen and ask questions.鈥�

Ali, who met with a former teacher in her mid-80s, notes, 鈥淚 learned a lot from her because I haven鈥檛 had many opportunities to work with senior patients. I was impressed by how active she is! She shared that she loves to bike and also likes to paint. I think there is a tendency to not fully understand just how busy and full the lives of older patients can be. To my surprise, we noticed that they are 10 times busier than we are!"

Two of the Mt. San Antonio Gardens residents who benefited from the 蜜桃直播 PharmD visitors were Jil and , who is a 蜜桃直播 Trustee Emeritus and President Emeritus for Claremont McKenna College.

"As residents, we brought out our medications and told the pharmacy students what we thought the medications did," Jil said. "The 蜜桃直播 students confirmed or clarified each medication's purpose. Initially, my doctor told me to stop taking one of my diabetes medications. The 蜜桃直播 student corrected this misinformation and reminded me that I was not supposed to stop taking that specific one. When I called my physician, he admitted that he was wrong and the 蜜桃直播 pharmacy student had provided the right recommendation."

Andrea Tyck, the wellness director for Mt. San Antonio Gardens, views the partnership with SPHS as mutually beneficial, explaining, 鈥淎s an elder care organization, we want to help develop skilled practitioners for the future. It鈥檚 also very validating for residents to interact with students who are interested in them as people.鈥�

She is aware that residents gain additional benefits from their interactions with the students. Some, like Chin鈥檚 partner, have learned they were taking medications at the wrong time. Others come to realize they were taking too much of a medication.

Ali, who helped the woman she worked with compile a complete list of her medications and allergies, says, 鈥淪he was adherent, but if she went into a hospital without this list, there could be gaps in her care. Going into the profession, I now understand the importance of making a list for people.鈥�

Both Ali and Chin are already beginning to apply what they learned at Mt. San Antonio Gardens in their roles as interns in retail pharmacies.

鈥淚 learned the importance of patience in communicating with elderly people. You need to take the time to explain the medication they鈥檙e taking and what it looks like,鈥� says Chin. 鈥淚鈥檓 definitely going to spend more time on the counseling side of pharmacy.鈥�

They have also grown more interested in working with the elderly, and Ali comments, 鈥淓ven if I did this another time with another resident, I think I鈥檇 learn ten times more.鈥�

Though Ali and Chin won鈥檛 be repeating the experience, the Mt. San Antonio Gardens residents often do so, including more than 25 percent of the spring semester participants. Their enthusiasm about the partnership also helps Tyck recruit fresh volunteers.

鈥淩esidents like helping students practice their future skills and tell their friends about it,鈥� says Tyck, who will start the next recruitment cycle in December. 鈥淎s long as we鈥檙e able to sustain interest and participation from the residents, we鈥檙e going to retain the program. So far, we鈥檙e still going strong.鈥�