Scientists Call for Safer Care for Older Adults

Aggressive treatment of chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension may be harming thousands of vulnerable older adults in the U.S., according to a new study by Florida Atlantic University’s Joseph G. Ouslander, M.D., and collaborators published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

The researchers warn that overly intensive care — such as strict medication regimens or rigid targets — can lead to dangerously low blood sugar or blood pressure, causing emergency visits, hospitalizations, disability or even death.

Despite clinical guidelines urging individualized treatment, particularly for frail seniors or nursing home residents, overtreatment remains common. Scientists call for urgent systemic changes, including better support for providers, updated quality measures and expanded research into safer therapies for older adults.

Their recommendations include personalized care planning, increased use of real-world data, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and more inclusive clinical trials. They also advocate for health care systems to move away from “one-size-fits-all” targets and instead prioritize shared decision-making and patient safety.

“These preventable complications often result from well-intended care that doesn’t consider the patient’s age or health status,” Ouslander said. “We need a more person-centered approach that reduces harm and honors the dignity of older adults.”

Read the press release.