Abstract
The use of multiple medications by a large number of older people provides grounds for concern in terms of quality of life as well as cost. We argue that problems faced by older people are being over-medicalized in a manner that palliates and obscures social causes such as loss of income, the falling away of social support and a discounted role in society. Primary health care is a policy model for the development of health services which offers a credible strategy for addressing clinical problems associated with growing old in ways that also contribute to recognizing and addressing social and structural problems that may be expressed in people's private troubles.