Optimizing Medications with the Geriatrics 5Ms: An Age-Friendly Approach

Polypharmacy is a common problem among older adults, as they are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions and may experience fragmentation of care among specialists. The Geriatrics 5Ms framework offers a person-centered approach to address polypharmacy and optimize medications, including deprescribing when appropriate. The elements of the Geriatrics 5Ms, which align with the approach of the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative, include consideration of Medications, Mind, Mobility, Multicomplexity, and What Matters Most. Each M domain impacts and is impacted by medications, and learning about the patient’s goals through questions guided by the Geriatrics 5Ms may inform an Age-Friendly medication optimization plan. While research on the implementation of each of the elements of the Geriatrics 5Ms shows benefit, further research is needed to study the impact of this framework in clinical practice.