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Medication Management in Older Adults with Dementia

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Dementia and Chronic Disease

Abstract

Medication management in patients with dementia is often difficult. Treatments for concomitant medical problems can worsen cognitive function, affect adherence to prescribed medications, and make transitions from one level of care to another challenging. Avoiding potentially inappropriate medications, such as those mentioned in the American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria and the Screening Tool of Older Person’s Prescriptions, can decrease the likelihood of suboptimal outcomes. Regularly reviewing drug regimens and decreasing the dose or discontinuing agents that are not clearly helping or are causing harm—known as deprescribing—is another useful tool for optimizing medication management. Several interventions to increase medication adherence are available, and customization based on a particular patient’s situation and needs is vital. Finally, transitions in levels of care can be challenging yet also provide opportunities to evaluate and improve patients’ medication regimens. A team-based approach is vital to ensure patients with dementia receive optimal medication management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, USA

    Mobolaji Adeola

  2. University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, TX, USA

    Julianna Fernandez & Jeffrey Sherer

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  1. Mobolaji Adeola
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  2. Julianna Fernandez
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  3. Jeffrey Sherer
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Correspondence to Jeffrey Sherer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Angela Georgia Catic

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Adeola, M., Fernandez, J., Sherer, J. (2020). Medication Management in Older Adults with Dementia. In: Catic, A.G. (eds) Dementia and Chronic Disease. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46398-4_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-46398-4_4

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