Is it safe to give an 85 year old man his medications without eating anything?

It depends on which meds he takes.
Can you give us the list?

I take 2 meds that are supposed to be on an empty stomach. (I take them while I'm still in bed in the morning.) I take some that are best taken with food. The rest it doesn't matter.

So SueC is right. We'd need to know what pills. But here is a very easy way for you to find out: call the druggist.

Also information about whether to take on an empty stomach or with food should be right on the label.