Medicines support, carers, and collaborative care

Many people living with dementia rely on family, friends, care workers, or pharmacy delivery services to help with medicines. That support can be essential, but it must remain person-centred, lawful, and safe.

Working well with carers

• Respect confidentiality: a carer’s involvement does not remove the person's right to privacy.
• Check the person's wishes where possible: they may want the carer included in some discussions but not others.
• Value carer insight: carers often notice missed doses, swallowing problems, side effects, or practical difficulties before professionals do.
• Keep medicines advice practical: cover timing, storage, what to do after a missed dose, and which OTC products to avoid.
• Support carers too: they may be tired, anxious, or managing a complex regimen without training.

Practical medicines support in pharmacy

• Review adherence support carefully: reminder charts, monitored dosage systems, and collection or delivery arrangements can help, but they are not suitable for every person or medicine.
• Simplify regimens when possible: reduce unnecessary dosing complexity, avoid awkward timings or difficult packs, and consider better tolerated formulations.
• Check swallowing and formulation issues: do not assume tablets can be crushed or capsules opened without clinical review.
• Consider the wider system: repeat ordering, communication with the GP practice, care home staff or domiciliary carers, and structured medication review pathways should align.
• Watch for OTC risks: over-the-counter medicines and sleep aids may interact with prescribed treatments or worsen confusion.

A practical note for clinicians and managers

Carers are often essential partners in dementia care, but pharmacy support still needs to be individual, lawful, and medicines-safe. Good intentions are not enough if the arrangement itself is risky.