Many family caregivers know that medications can cause side-effects in older people, and may worry that perhaps their loved ones are being affected by medications.
It’s a very reasonable concern to have. Studies have shown that older adults, especially those taking multiple prescription medications, often experience potentially serious side-effects from their medications.
But having talked with many family caregivers over the years, I’ve found that even the savvy ones often haven’t heard of the “Beer’s List.”
What is the Beer’s List?
Technically known as the “American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria: Medications that Older Adults Should Avoid or Use with Caution,” this is a carefully reviewed list of medications that are “potentially inappropriate” for older adults, and includes many of the medications that we geriatricians tend to stop or reduce in our patients. (Seriously, identifying and reducing these medications is a big part of my clinical practice!)
Although mainly meant to be used as a reference by clinicians, the American Geriatrics Society(AGS) also provides the information in an easier-to-read format here.
What to do if you realize that you or a loved one is taking a potentially risky medication? Conveniently, AGS addresses this very issue and provides a handy online guide on “What to Do and What to Ask Your Healthcare Provider if a Medication You Take is Listed in the Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medications to Use in Older Adults.”
If you’re a caregiver: Have you ever used the Beer’s list as a resource? Other ideas for how caregivers can be empowered to check on their loved one’s medications?
Are any of your publications available as free handouts to give to patients?
thank you
Thanks for your interest in my resources. So far I don’t have anything beyond what is on this website.
I am currently trying to put together all of my moms medical info on to my lap top. Do you know what program I can down load to organize everything.
Great that you are trying to organize your mother’s medical information!
Unfortunately, I don’t have a particular program to recommend at this time. I haven’t researched newer programs for a few years now. New services can be quite innovative but some of them fold or get bought out quickly. Microsoft Healthvault is older and well-established; it hasn’t been revamped in a while, as far as I know, but does work. Alternatively, some people use information/note-keeping apps such as Evernote, or OneNote, or even Dropbox. I have more on tools to keep medical information here:
Tools for caregivers: Keeping & Organizing Medical Information
This article is also relevant: How to Use a Personal Health Record to Improve an Older Person’s Healthcare
Just for medications, there are a variety of apps and services available, but I don’t recommend a particular one at this time.
Try the CareZone App. You can track medications, refills, doctors contact info, appointments, journal routine and unexpected events including flu shot dates, etc, record copies of insurance and ID cards, and SO much more! Been my favorite for MANY years!
Thanks for sharing this suggestion. I have tried CareZone in the past, and it’s true that some families really like it.
I like that the information can be accessed via web browser or app.