High risk medicines and deprescribing in dementia

Country SA PHN and PSA invite you to a 2-hour workshop aimed at enhancing the quality of life for South Australians living with dementia and their care networks. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with other health professionals whilst exploring approaches for the identification of high risk medicines, optimisation of medication management, and deprescribing strategies for people living with dementia.

This high risk medicines and deprescribing in dementia professional development workshop, and the associated resources have been made possible by funding from the Country SA PHN.

Why is this important?

In rural and regional South Australia, over 10,000 people are estimated to be living with dementia, with numbers expected to rise significantly over the next 25 years. PSA’s work in the Dementia Support Pharmacist program has shown first-accessing timely healthcare, including dementia diagnosis and ongoing management, delays due to geographical location and limited availability of healthcare providers.

Medication-related problems contribute substantially to this burden with approximately 250,000 hospital admissions in Australia annually due to medication related problems, at an estimated cost of $1.4 billion per year. It is reported that 4 in 10 people are prescribed a potentially inappropriate medicine contributing to this medication burden. Data from 2023-24 indicates that people living with dementia have an average hospital stay of 15 days, significantly higher than the average length of stay of 2.7 days, they are also likely to have more difficulty expressing symptoms related to medication burden.

Importantly, it is estimated that up to 50% of medication related problems are considered preventable, with general practitioners and pharmacists well-positioned to review medicines, support quality use of medicines and deprescribe medicines where appropriate —particularly in regional settings where tailored, evidence-based interventions can have a significant impact.  

What is your role as a pharmacist, GP or health professional?

Pharmacists are uniquely positioned to conduct medication reviews, optimising medicine use and reducing medication burden for people living with dementia. As integral members of the interdisciplinary care team, pharmacists play a crucial role in deprescribing through development of comprehensive, evidence-based deprescribing plans to support the General Practitioner (GP).

GPs prescribe and oversee medication management for their patients. Through a person-centred approach, GPs are responsible for initiating and discontinuing medicines as appropriate. Their collaboration with pharmacists and other health professionals is essential to ensuring the quality use of medicines and safe deprescribing practices.

Health professionals from diverse backgrounds —including nurses, allied health practitioners, and aged care staff— make up the broader interdisciplinary team supporting people living with dementia. Their insights and guidance can help support successful deprescribing and quality use of medicines through non-pharmacological interventions and contribute to a holistic approach to medication management.

What’s in it for you?

Workshops will be delivered at multiple locations across South Australia from February to June 2026 and are open to all health care professionals (Pharmacists, GPs, Nurses, etc.) within the associated Country SA PHN.

Dates and Venues:

  • Port Lincoln (EFNLHN) - Wednesday 4 February 2026, Port Lincoln Hotel 1 Lincoln Highway, Port Lincoln SA 5606 *Final spaces available!*
  • Mount Barker (BHFLHN) - Wednesday 18 February 2026, Auchendarroch House, 17 Adelaide Road, Mount Barker SA 5251 (Car park off Dumas Street) *Registrations close 4 February 2026*
  • Mt Gambier (LCLHN) - Wednesday 18 March 2026, Mount Gambier Hotel, 2 Commercial Street West, Mount Gambier SA *Registrations close 4 March 2026* 
  • Berri (RMCLHN) - Wednesday 8 April 2026, Berri Hotel, 31 Riverview Drive, Berri SA *Registrations close 25 March 2026* 
  • Whyalla (FUNLHN) - Mid May 2026, date and venue TBC
  • Wallaroo (YNLHN) - Mid June 2026, date and venue TBC

Time: Registrations open 6.30pm. Workshop 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Cost: Free, however registration is essential.
Refreshments: Food and non-alcoholic beverages provided.
Please bring along a smart phone or device to participate in the session via Mentimeter.

Places are limited so please inform us if you have to cancel your registration for any reason.

For any queries, please contact sa.branch@psa.org.au.

Competency Standards (2016): 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 4.3

Learning Objectives: 

By participating in this workshop attendees will be able to:

  1. Identify high-risk medicines in people living with dementia 
  2. Evaluate tools for assessing medicine risk and polypharmacy for people living with dementia
  3. Explain person-centred deprescribing plans to minimise risk in people living with dementia
  4. Develop practice change ideas aimed at reducing high risk medicines in people living with dementia

Presented by:

 

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Thank you! If you are no longer able to attend please email sa.branch@psa.org.au.

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