Supporting shared decision-making in medicines use with people living with dementia and their carers.

INAPPROPRIATE prescribing (Medicine); NURSES; MEDICAL care use; RISK assessment; PATIENTS' rights; LEGISLATION; DECISION making; POLYPHARMACY; PATIENT care; GOAL (Psychology); INFORMATION resources; CAREGIVERS; QUALITY of life; NURSING practice; DEMENTIA; DEMENTIA patients; PSYCHIATRIC drugs; PATIENTS' attitudes; SELF-perception; PATIENT participation

Why you should read this article: • To understand some of the issues related to polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing in people living with dementia • To recognise the importance of shared decision-making about medicines use in people living with dementia • To learn about various decision aids that you could use in your practice to support shared decision-making. Polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing of psychotropic medicines are common among people living with dementia and pose considerable health risks. One way of addressing these issues is by involving the person and their carer in shared decision-making. This article discusses some of the issues related to polypharmacy and inappropriate prescribing in people living with dementia and examines the concept of shared decision-making in this context. The author details some practical aids that nurses and other healthcare professionals can use to engage people living with dementia and their carers in shared decision-making about medicines use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]