Optimising Medication Use along Dementia Progression: Recommendations from a Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Medicines management is a critical aspect of family caregiver roles, often contributing to caregiver burden and stress.
• Dementia progression introduces challenges affecting decision-making and living arrangements for people living with dementia (PLWD).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and explore changes in medicines management as dementia progresses.
• To examine the association between these changes and caregiver burden.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using face-to-face and telephone interviews.
• Interviews conducted with people living with dementia (PLWD), family caregivers, and care-home staff in London.
• Follow-up interviews with family caregivers to track changes over time.

Main Results:

• Dementia progression significantly impacts medication use, affecting caregiver burden, PLWD autonomy, capacity for decision-making, scheduling, administration, formulation choice, provider interactions, and information needs.
• Key changes identified across different dementia severities.

Conclusions:

• Understanding changes in medicines management throughout dementia progression is crucial for optimizing medication use.
• Recommendations can be developed to alleviate caregiver burden and improve care for PLWD.