46 THE FUTURE OF PHARMACY INTERNATIONAL PHARMACY JOURNAL Adults over the age of 50 years are in many countries the fastest growing segment of the the world’s population and their numbers are increasing by 8 billion every month. They have become the fastest segment of the population in many developing countries. 1,2 According to the World Health Statistics 2011, 83 million persons in India are 60 years nation’s total population 3 and is estimated that this aging population will result in 316 million elderly persons by 2050. 4 Similarly, in the United States, older adults have become the fastest growing segment of the popula- tion and are expected to double in number to 72 million by 2030. 5 Many older adults have multiple medical conditions, such as hyper- tension, arthritis, heart disease, cancer and diabetes mellitus, which require multiple medication for proper treatment. 6,7 The prevalence of increased number and quan- tity of medications used in this population leads to increased morbidity due to adverse drug reactions, drug interactions and patient non-compliance. GERIATRIC CARE IMPROVING ADHERENCE THROUGH PHARMACY PRACTICE B.Akshaya Srikanth, K.Ravinder Reddy, Sunil Kumar Jain There are many inter-related reasons for non-compliance These variables fall into four main categories presence of symptoms; memory loss; depression and cognitive impairment. economic conditions. medication class; perception of medication; duration of treatment and complexity of treatment. Despite the fact that these variables develop separately, in practice they overlap substantially. This evidence suggests that there is a need for pharmacists involved in geriatric patient care in order to curb both adherence and compliance issues. Geriatric care or eldercare is the fulfillment of the special needs and requirements that are unique to senior citizens. This broad term encompasses such services as assisted living, adult day care, long term care, nursing homes, hospice care, and In-Home care. 8 With the growth of the older adult population, community- based elder health services are becoming critical components of many health systems and are creating entrepreneurial opportunities. Pharmacists are now providing services to the older adults in a variety of community settings, including traditional pharmacies as well as pharmacies operating out of senior faculties and clinics, and in consultative roles. Pharma- cists provide regular drug reviews for nursing homes residents