Guide
Better health for people living
with dementia
Medication management
Polypharmacy is a problem for many people, particularly people with multiple comorbidities. Medications can also contribute to falls, confusion, hypotension and delirium in people living with dementia.
Practice points
Pharmacists provide a medication review to:
- examine all medications that a person is taking
- assess for drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions
- assess and make suggestions to improve the likelihood of compliance
- suggest medication changes to the person’s usual doctor
- suggest strategies or technologies to reduce medications mishaps by enabling a person living with dementia to take the right dose at the right time.
Occupational therapists:
- assess a person’s capacity to manage medications and identify areas of difficulty
- suggest strategies or technologies to reduce medications mishaps by enabling a person living with dementia to take the right dose at the right time.
Dietitians:
- assess for drug-nutrient interactions.
The National Dementia Helpline is an Australian Government funded initiative.