ConcordMeds

Medication safety for older adults

Some medications deserve extra review as people get older.

Medication safety in older adults can depend on the drug, dose, medical conditions, kidney function and other medications being taken. ConcordMeds helps caregivers understand which issues may be worth discussing with a healthcare professional.

Why can medication risks change with age?

Age-related changes in the body can affect how medications are absorbed, processed and cleared. Older adults are also more likely to take several medications at once, increasing the importance of regular medication review.

What is the AGS Beers Criteria?

The AGS Beers Criteria is an evidence-based clinical resource that identifies medications and medication classes that may warrant avoidance, caution or additional review in many older adults.

The criteria are not a list of medications that are always unsafe. Whether a medicine is appropriate depends on the person's clinical circumstances and should be assessed by a qualified healthcare professional.

What does “potentially inappropriate medication” mean?

It does not automatically mean the medication is wrong. It means that, for some older adults, the potential risks may outweigh the expected benefits or that safer alternatives may sometimes be available.

Should a caregiver stop a medication that appears on a safety list?

No. A caregiver should not stop, reduce or change prescription medication based solely on an app, article or screening list. Concerns should be reviewed with the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist who understands the person's full medical history.

How ConcordMeds approaches medication safety

ConcordMeds is designed to surface potential concerns for review rather than make treatment decisions. Medical content published by ConcordMeds will be based on verified authoritative sources and will clearly cite the evidence used.

Source standard

ConcordMeds medical content is intended to rely on authoritative sources such as the American Geriatrics Society, FDA, NIH/NLM, NHS/NICE, MHRA, EMA and peer-reviewed medical literature.

Verified evidence

Sources

Last evidence review: 6 September 2026

ConcordMeds uses authoritative clinical, government and peer-reviewed sources for medical content. These references support the educational information on this page.

  1. American Geriatrics Society. 2023 AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults — Official AGS overview of the 2023 criteria and its five medication-review categories.
  2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 5 Medication Safety Tips for Older Adults — FDA guidance on aging, interactions, side effects and keeping an accurate medication list.
  3. National Institute on Aging. Taking Medicines Safely as You Age — NIH guidance on multiple medications, medication lists and medicine safety in older adults.

ConcordMeds does not treat screening criteria or educational information as a diagnosis or a reason to start, stop or change medication without professional review.