Laughter is the Best Medicine: A Pharmacist's Wisdom on Geriatric Care - with Dr. Kofi Abrampah

In this interview, we sit down with Kofi Abrampah, a certified geriatric pharmacist since 2016, who shares his passion for improving care for older adults. Dr. Abrampah discusses how the geriatric population is often underserved in healthcare, the dangers of polypharmacy, and why focusing on "what matters" to patients should drive treatment decisions. Learn about the "4Ms" approach to geriatric care, why addiction medicine is still important for geriatrics, how certain medications can contribute to dementia, and why laughter truly might be the best medicine with no side effects!Join us as we explore compassionate approaches to mental health care for older adults and challenge common assumptions about aging and medication management.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Introduction and the power of laughter 01:57 - Kofi's journey to becoming a pharmacist 03:15 - Why Kofi chose to specialize in geriatric pharmacy 06:46 - Definition of geriatrics and identifying underserved populations 10:03 - Cultural differences in elder care 11:32 - Mental health challenges in geriatric populations 13:45 - The problem with antipsychotics for behavior management 15:53 - The "4Ms" approach to geriatric care 16:29 - Understanding anticholinergic medications and dementia risk 19:18 - Fall risks and mortality in older adults 21:47 - Why older adults need specialized medication approaches 24:14 - Starting with "what matters" to patients 26:34 - The dangers of polypharmacy and prescription cascades 28:15 - Addiction medicine for older adults 31:23 - Breaking stigma around addiction 32:19 - Closing thoughts and contact informationLearn more about our interview series at: www.tntopenmind.orgConnect with Kofi Abraham: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkofi/ Website: www.Cliniplex-RX.com #MentalHealth #GeriatricCare #Healthcare #Pharmacy #ElderCare #CompassionateCare #MedicationManagement #TNTOpenMindInsights Subscribe to TNT Open Mind Insights - Mental Health Interview Series on Soundwise