Medicines management for people with dementia

Dementia care has evolved over the years, with a rise in person-centred non-pharmacological interventions such as reminiscence therapy, reality orientation and validation therapy. While these non-pharmacological interventions are an important facet of dementia care, nurses also require up-to-date knowledge of the medicines used to manage the symptoms of dementia, including antidepressants, cognitive enhancers and analgesics. Nurses should also understand the effects of behaviour-modifying medicines such as antipsychotics, anxiolytics and hypnotics, which are often overused or inappropriately prescribed in people with dementia. This article discusses the use of all these medicines in dementia care. It also examines the effect of polypharmacy on people with dementia, as well as some of the challenges involved in medicines administration in this patient group, such as covert administration of medicines, polypharmacy and non-adherence.

Medicines management for people with dementia

Dementia care has evolved over the years, with a rise in person-centred non-pharmacological interventions such as reminiscence therapy, reality orientation and validation therapy. While these non-pharmacological interventions are an important facet of dementia care, nurses also require up-to-date knowledge of the medicines used to manage the symptoms of dementia, including antidepressants, cognitive enhancers and analgesics. Nurses should also understand the effects of behaviour-modifying medicines such as antipsychotics, anxiolytics and hypnotics, which are often overused or inappropriately prescribed in people with dementia. This article discusses the use of all these medicines in dementia care. It also examines the effect of polypharmacy on people with dementia, as well as some of the challenges involved in medicines administration in this patient group, such as covert administration of medicines, polypharmacy and non-adherence.

Optimisation of dementia care in care homes: Dementia care framework (innovative practice)

There are an increasing number of people living with dementia in care home settings. Recent reports suggest that people who deliver care to residents living with dementia in care homes require specialist support to provide optimum care. To address this need Four Seasons Health Care, the largest provider of care homes within the UK today, sought to design a dementia care framework that enhanced the quality of life for people living with dementia in their care homes. The framework was designed using a robust evidence base, engagement with people living with dementia, their care partners, policy-writers, multidisciplinary professionals and people within the organisation. This paper describes the methodology behind the dementia care framework and outcomes data from the first phase (of 20 care homes that included the care of 451 people living with dementia). The main outcome was a significant improvement in the quality of the lives of residents across biological, psychological, social and spiritual needs.