Scenario 1: Medicines optimisation

• How would you prepare for and approach a consultation with a person living with dementia?
• How would you ensure a person-centred approach to the consultation to enable the person living with dementia to share their views and concerns about their healthcare and be involved in shared decision making?
• What are the key areas you will need to focus on when reviewing medicines for someone living with dementia?

Scenario 2: Skill mix – the right person for the task

Edith is a 72-year-old lady with dementia who has been a regular customer at your community pharmacy for many years. Edith’s daughter mentions that her mother often forgets to take her medicines and asks what you can do to help. How could you and your team improve medicines management for Edith?

In answering this, you may want to consider the following questions:

• How would you manage the issues of confidentiality and discussing the patient’s medicines with a carer or family member?
• Could you or your team assess Edith to see what her medicines-support needs are? Would a reminder chart help her for example?
• Could your team assist in the ordering and delivering of prescriptions?
• Does your team offer monitored dosage systems – and are they used appropriately considering the risks and benefits associated with them?
• Are you and your pharmacy team aware of how your patients can access medicines for dementia?