PHARMACISTS have a critical role to play in improving medicine safety and health outcomes for Australians living with dementia, said the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA), as Dementia Action Week draws to a close.
With almost half a million Australians living with dementia and 1.7 million people involved in their care, the condition affects nearly every community.
The PSA pointed out that this year's theme, 'Nobody can do it alone', is "a powerful reminder of the impact of dementia and the collective effort required to support those affected", with pharmacists ready to play a vital role in this community-wide response.
The Dementia Support Pharmacist project in South Australia, funded by the Country SA Primary Health Network, provides an impactful illustration of how pharmacists can assist patients and families through medication management, deprescribing and holistic care planning.
"In 63% of our patient interactions, we've recommended deprescribing unnecessary or potentially inappropriate medicines," said Dementia Support Pharmacist Dee-Anne Hull.
"And in 20% of cases, we've simplified medicine regimens, making life easier and safer for patients and carers alike."
Hull and fellow Dementia Support Pharmacist Nicola Sander have travelled extensively to reach patients in rural and regional communities, covering thousands of kilometres by plane and car in the first year of the project.
In addition to medication management, they also support clients and families with carer burden assessments, end-of-life planning, non-pharmacological strategies, and referrals to local services and supports.
"We listen, we care, and we walk alongside families through one of the toughest journeys imaginable," Sander said.
"Now imagine if there were more of us - imagine the difference we could make."
PSA National President Associate Professor Fei Sim said the program exemplifies the impact pharmacists can have when embedded in dementia care pathways.
"As dementia becomes a leading cause of death, we must invest in scalable, pharmacist-led models of care that improve medicine safety and quality of life for patients and families," Associate Professor Sim concluded. KB
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