Statement on medication simplification in long-term care facilities by the Japanese Society of Geriatric Pharmacy: English translation of the Japanese article

Abstract

Many older adults who are certified for long-term care services live or stay in long-term care facilities (LTCFs), where they receive medical and nursing care. These individuals often encounter medication-related problems, such as polypharmacy and complex medication regimens, including frequent administration schedules. Although considerable attention has been paid to polypharmacy in the context of optimizing medication use in older adults, little emphasis has been placed on simplifying these regimens. Recently, the Japanese Society of Geriatric Pharmacy issued statements on medication simplification in LTCFs based on a scoping review of the literature and expert opinions. In these statements, medication simplification is defined as the process of reducing the number of medication administration times, ideally to once during lunchtime. The statements outline principles and processes to achieve medication simplification through interprofessional collaboration, including consolidating and reducing the number of medication administration times a day to minimize the risk of medication errors and ensure medical safety. Medication simplification will play a substantial role in alleviating the burden of medication intake for residents, and in reducing and equalizing the workload of medication administration for staff members throughout the day in LTCFs. These statements suggest that administering medication during lunchtime is beneficial when an adequate number of staff members are available in LTCFs. We hope that these statements will help ensure patient safety, and facilitate successful medication optimization for all medical, nursing and social care professionals working in LTCFs. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2025; 25: 14-24.

Keywords: long‐term care facilities; medication regimen complexity; medication simplification; nursing homes; older adults.

Figure 1

Contrast between deprescribing and medication simplification.

Figure 2

Flowchart for medication simplification in long‐term care facilities.