Laughter is the Best Medicine: A Pharmacist’s Wisdom on Geriatric Care

In a heartwarming and eye-opening conversation with Kofi Abrampah PharmD, a certified geriatric pharmacist since 2016, we discover how proper medication management can dramatically improve the quality of life for older adults. With his infectious laugh and profound insights,Dr. Abrampah' reveals why geriatric populations are among the most underserved in healthcare and how his approach is changing lives.

The Human Story

Dr. Abrampah's journey to geriatric pharmacy wasn't a straight path. Originally dreaming of becoming a pilot, his life changed direction when an honors biology professor took him under his wing. This mentorship sparked a passion for science that eventually led him to pharmacy school.

But what truly shaped his dedication to older adults was being raised by his grandmother. "Everything that I know is because of her," Dr. Abrampah shares. This personal connection fuels his mission to ensure older adults receive the same careful attention given to pediatric patients.

Dr. Abrampah observed a troubling pattern in healthcare: when an older person is hospitalized, the urgency to treat them often doesn't match the response given to younger patients. "When you're old, it's like everybody's expecting you to be ready to go," he explains. This cultural attitude—treating illness in older adults as inevitable rather than treatable—inspired him to specialize in geriatric pharmacy and advocate for change.

The 4 M's Approach

At the heart of Dr. Abrampah's practice is the "4 M's" framework for treating geriatric patients:

Mentation: Addressing cognitive function
Medication: Ensuring appropriate prescriptions
Medication: Ensuring appropriate prescriptions
What Matters: Understanding the patient's priorities

Of these, he emphasizes that "what matters" should drive all treatment decisions. "If you start from what matters, everything else falls in place," Dr. Abrampah explains. For example, if spending quality time with grandchildren matters most to a patient, medications that cause excessive drowsiness might not be the right choice—even if they effectively treat a condition.

This person-centered approach represents a fundamental shift from treating diseases to treating people. "Are you really treating the patient? Or are you just treating the disease?" Kofi challenges.

Addiction Medicine for Geriatrics

"Addiction still matters. Even when you're 85 in a nursing home." Dr. Abrampah says. He highlights the complex challenge of treating older adults with chronic conditions requiring medications like opioids and benzodiazepines while managing substance use disorders. This creates "a very difficult situation for the patient and the prescriber." Through education from the Train New Trainers Addiction Medicine Fellowship he is learning the skills to address the challenges.

Kofi's work reminds us that compassionate, personalized care isn't just about being kind—it's about being effective. By understanding the unique needs of geriatric patients and prioritizing what matters most to them, we can help older adults live fuller, healthier lives.