Do you know if the medications your older loved ones are taking are actually harming them?

You might have a guess, but how do you actually know?!

Thankfully there is a resource, called the Beers List, put out by the American Geriatrics Society, that lists potentially harmful medications for older adults!

The Beers List is a list of prescription and over the counter (OTC) medications put out by the American Geriatrics Society every 3 years. It includes a long list of medications that are potentially inappropriate and harmful for use in older adults.

This list was originally designed for clinicians, educators, researchers, healthcare systems, etc, but it is VERY important that YOU, as a caregiver for an aging parent, know about this list as well!

Having this information will help YOU communicate with your loved one’s medical providers and help YOUR LOVED ONE live their best life!

Watch the interview now!

Read the transcript

In this bonus interview, Dr. Lisa Frank will:

>> Answer the question: “What is the Beers List?”

>> And, “Why is it important to know what medications your aging loved one is taking?”

>> And, she’ll talk about a few of the medications on this list that older adults should avoid 

Lisa Frank, MD is a board certified psychiatrist with special interests in geriatric psychiatry, trauma, and mood disorders. Dr. Frank has practiced in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatry units, partial hospitalization programs, and outpatient. She has served as Medical Director for two acute psychiatric inpatient units and is a former faculty member of both Morehouse School of Medicine and Emory University School of Medicine, both in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Frank currently works in a community mental health care setting.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll learn from my interview with Dr. Lisa Frank:

• [02:16] What is the Beers List?
  
• [03:06] Dr. Frank describes a common over the counter medication that can cause cognitive impairment in older adults AND is on the Beers List.
  
• [03:28]  Dr. Frank discusses common medications that can be a precursor to a delirium in older adults.
  
• [04:22]  You may be surprised to learn that these common prescription medications are on the Beers List and are potentially inappropriate for use in older adults.
  
• [05:33] Dr. Frank discusses the use of the Beers List in helping to assess for dementia disorders.

Want to learn more about the Beers List Criteria?

Read the full Beer’s List  here in the report from the American Geriatrics Society. It was updated in 2019 and includes potentially inappropriate medication (prescription and over the counter) use in older adults.

Want to learn more about dementia?

Here’s an important freebie I made just for you, It’s called,  Dementia 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Dementia Disorders. In it, I describe what dementia is and isn’t. I describe the phases of dementia and what to do if you’re worried that your aging parent may have dementia. So, take a moment to download it. It answers some of the most frequently asked questions I get about dementia!

Here are some episodes that can broaden your understanding of dementia and caring for someone with dementia as well!

• Dementia is NOT a Normal Part of Aging (Ep #024)
• Interview with MJ Grant (Part 1)- MJ Talks About Caring for Her Mom with Dementia (Ep #026)

That’s all for today! If you have friends who would benefit from this information, please share this video and article with them, because nobody should have to do this caregiving thing-alone.

Lots of love to you and your family.

Bye for now,

Dr. Regina Koepp

PS:

 Get caught up on all of my interviews with Dr. Lisa Frank here: 

• Dementia, Delirium, and When To Seek Medical Care. Interview with Dr. Lisa Frank- Part 1 (Ep #028)
• Hallucinations, Delusions, and Antipsychotic Medications. Interview with Dr. Lisa Frank- Part 2 (Ep #029)
• Older Adults and Psychiatric Inpatient Units. Interview with Dr. Lisa Frank- Part 3 (Ep #030)