How do you approach initiating a deprescribing conversation about a long-standing benzodiazepine in an older adult who has been on a stable dose for years and reports no side effects?

First, I try to understand what symptoms led to the initiation of the benzodiazepine, which can help me identify whether there is a safer alternative treatment. Then I make sure people understand why we want them to come off the benzodiazepine in the first place, since this is not common knowledge (e.g., risk of falls, confusion/cognitive impairment). They may not notice these side effects because they have been on the medication for so long. I also mention that it is probably no longer helping if they have been on it every day/evening for so many years, pointing out that they are likely getting side effects without benefit.