Older Adults Take Too Many Pills. UB Wants Them to Ask Their Doctors, 'Is This Really Necessary?'

The University at Buffalo (UB) wants older adults to question their doctors as to whether discontinuing certain medications is the right course of action, reports WBFO . "We want to encourage older adults and their family members to speak up to advocate for stopping medications," said Ranjit Singh at the UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. "So when you go to the doctor, don't go in asking for new medications. Start out by asking, 'Are there any medications I don't need anymore?'" Key to this is the Elder Voices Network, an initiative to offer awareness presentations. "The effort is to not only work with healthcare providers, but also to empower older adults to really take control of their health and to really feel comfortable questioning physicians about medications," said presentation leader Mary Brennan-Taylor. Presenters recommend checking out the American Geriatrics Society's Beers Criteria, a list of medications deemed unsafe for older adults.