Deprescribing for Safer Aging: How Reducing Medications Protects Older Adults
As people age, their list of daily medications often grows. While many prescriptions are essential, taking too many can increase the risk of side effects, confusion, and hospital visits. This week’s KarpeCare theme highlights new research on deprescribing, the process of safely reducing or stopping unnecessary medications to protect older adults’ health and quality of life.
1. Electronic Decision Support for Deprescribing in Older Adults Living in Long-Term Care
Summary: A 2024 randomized trial published in JAMA Network Open examined how electronic decision-support tools could help staff in long-term care facilities identify and safely stop unnecessary medications. The study showed that pairing this technology with usual care significantly reduced the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs). The authors explained, “Decision support systems reduced the number of potentially inappropriate medications per resident, helping clinicians make safer choices for frail older adults.” This approach does not replace clinical judgment; it enhances it. By guiding nurses and physicians through clear prompts and reminders, the tool made deprescribing less intimidating and more consistent. This is especially useful in nursing homes where patients are often on 10 or more medications.
Take-Home Point: Electronic tools can make deprescribing safer and easier in nursing homes by supporting staff in reducing medication overload without compromising care quality.
Link to full article: JAMA Network Open
2. Clinical Impact of Medication Review and Deprescribing in Older Hospitalised Patients
Summary: A 2024 meta-analysis in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society pooled results from over 10 clinical trials involving thousands of hospitalized older adults. It found that patients who had a structured medication review, where a healthcare team systematically looked for unnecessary or harmful drugs, had fewer hospital readmissions. According to the authors, “Deprescribing interventions were associated with a significant reduction in hospital readmissions, with no increase in mortality or adverse events.” This means simplifying medication regimens not only makes life easier for patients but may also keep them out of the hospital. It is a reminder that more drugs do not always mean better treatment, especially when multiple specialists are involved.
Take-Home Point: Hospitalized older adults benefit from medication reviews; fewer unnecessary drugs can mean fewer complications and fewer return trips to the hospital.
Link to full article: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
3. Development of a Complex Multidisciplinary Medication Review and Deprescribing Intervention in Primary Care for Older People Living with Frailty and Polypharmacy
Summary: This 2025 PLoS ONE study focused on how to build an effective deprescribing program in primary care for older adults who take many medications. The researchers designed a team-based process that included doctors, pharmacists, and caregivers working together to review each patient’s prescriptions and goals. They emphasized that deprescribing must be more than just stopping pills. As they wrote, “Successful deprescribing depends on patient and carer engagement as much as clinical judgment.” The intervention included identifying high-risk patients, scheduling one-on-one reviews, discussing benefits and risks with patients and families, and setting up follow-up visits. It provided a roadmap for safer, more personalized care.
Take-Home Point: The safest way to reduce medications in older adults is through teamwork; doctors, pharmacists, patients, and caregivers must all be part of the plan.
Link to full article: PLoS ONE
Closing
Medication safety is a vital part of healthy aging. Reducing unnecessary prescriptions can lower the risks of falls, confusion, and hospital visits while helping older adults feel more alert and independent. At KarpeCare, we care deeply about sharing evidence-based research that supports safer, healthier living for seniors and their families. Empowering caregivers and professionals with trusted information is part of our mission to keep every home a place of comfort, safety, and dignity.