New resource launched to support medicines conversations for people living with dementia
A new resource has been launched to help people living with dementia to feel more confident when speaking to their doctors and healthcare professionals about their medicines.
Described as a ‘conversation starter’, the PRIME tool (Preparing people living with dementia to initiate conversations about their medicines) has been co-designed as part of the KIND program being led by The University of Queensland, the University of Maryland Baltimore and the University of Washington School of Pharmacy.
PRIME aims to help people with dementia to better understand and articulate their health needs and assess the number of prescribed medicines they take. It is intended for use by people with memory problems including Alzheimer’s disease, other types of dementia or mild cognitive impairment and their carers.
Dr Nagham Ailabouni from The University of Queensland’s School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences says:
“Talking to healthcare professionals can be daunting for people with dementia and their carers. Consumers have asked for a resource to help them navigate these conversations and report that using the PRIME tool gives them confidence to ask relevant questions
It could result in a comprehensive review of their medicines and a possible reduction in the number of potentially harmful medicines they take. This would help consumers manage their medicines more easily, ultimately improving their overall health and wellbeing.”
Find out more and access the PRIME tool here: https://kindmeds.org
A study about PRIME has been published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13872877251406907