The Department of Health of the Basque Government has updated the Pharmacotherapeutic Guide for Elder Care Homes in Euskadi. This tool aims to facilitate healthcare professionals in the selection and appropriate use of medications, contributing to safer and more effective pharmacotherapeutic care in residences.
The 2026 update incorporates the main developments since the guide's first edition in 2024. These include regulatory changes, a review of the active principles list, updated treatment algorithms, and new safety notes.
The guide addresses the specific needs of institutionalized elderly individuals, where the coexistence of multiple chronic diseases and the simultaneous use of different medications are common. This polypharmacy situation can increase the risk of adverse reactions and drug interactions. Furthermore, physiological changes associated with aging necessitate specific assessments of indication, dosage, and monitoring for certain treatments.
In this context, the document compiles evidence-based recommendations, clinical experience, and efficiency criteria to support healthcare professionals' decision-making. The goal is to improve safety, optimize treatment effectiveness, and contribute to a better quality of life for residents.
The Pharmacotherapeutic Guide was developed and updated by a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals from Euskadi, including family medicine and geriatrics specialists, as well as pharmacists from the Department of Health, Osakidetza, and community pharmacy. This joint vision addresses the particularities of pharmacotherapy in the elderly, making the guide a reference tool for medication selection and use in residences.
Key contributions include: selecting medications based on efficacy, safety, and scientific evidence; adapting dosages and pharmaceutical forms to the specific characteristics of older adults; considering medications suitable for personalized dosing and dispensing systems; evaluating new drugs based on their therapeutic contribution and available evidence in the elderly population; and prioritizing efficient alternatives to support healthcare system sustainability.
This year's review incorporates the latest relevant changes in pharmacotherapy and patient safety, keeping recommendations used by professionals in their clinical practice up-to-date. Thus, the guide continues to be a decision-support instrument, promoting safer, more effective, and rational medication use among the elderly in Euskadi's residences.
This update also aligns with the shared objectives of the Basque Health Pact, aimed at advancing towards more integrated, safe, and person-centered care, particularly in response to the challenges posed by population chronicity and aging.
