Drug Prescribing in the Elderly Receiving Home Care

Our data showed that the 2012 Beers Criteria was more sensitive in detecting PIMs than the 2003 Beers Criteria. Furthermore, frail older patients receiving HHS with polymedication and with psychiatric illnesses had higher risk of PIM when using the 2012 criteria. The number of medications prescribed could be a useful index for risk stratification, and at the same time help physicians to be aware of the high risk for PIM when prescribing 6 or more drugs to frail older adults during in-home visits.