The Beers Criteria is intended for use in which population?

• A. Adults aged 18 to 64
• B. Adults aged 65 years or older in ambulatory, acute, and institutionalized settings
• C. Pediatric patients
• D. All adults regardless of age

Answer: (B)

The Beers Criteria is a safety tool that identifies medications likely to be inappropriate for older adults due to higher risk of adverse effects and interactions. It is intended for adults aged 65 years or older across different care settings—ambulatory, acute, and institutionalized. It isn’t designed for pediatric patients, nor for all adults regardless of age. This focus exists because aging changes how drugs are processed by the body and because older adults commonly take multiple medications, increasing the chance of harm.