Managing medicines in the time of COVID-19: implications for community-dwelling people with dementia

Barry, Heather E.; Hughes, Carmel M.

COVID-19 has changed life beyond recognition for millions of individuals, as countries implement social distancing measures to prevent disease transmission. For certain patient groups, such as community-dwelling older people with dementia (PwD), these restrictions may have far-reaching consequences. Medicines management may be adversely affected and deserves careful thought. PwD face unique challenges with medicines management compared to other older people, often relying upon support from family/carers and primary healthcare professionals. This article considers potential issues that PwD may face with each component of medicines management (prescribing, dispensing, administration, adherence, review), and based on previous research, highlights strategies to support PwD and their carers during this time. Primary healthcare professionals must be attentive to medicines-related needs of community-dwelling PwD, particularly those living alone, both during the pandemic and as restrictions are lifted. Carers of PwD continue to have a critical role to play in medicines management, and also require support.