The Alzheimer’s Society has encouraged community pharmacies to participate in and register their pharmacy for its Dementia Friends initiative. Dementia friendly pharmacy schemes have also run in areas such as West Yorkshire and Manchester with checklists, guides and tips available to help create a dementia-friendly pharmacy.^24,25,26,27

The General Pharmaceutical Council has set out advice and recommendations around providing pharmacy services to patients and their carers living with dementia. It also considers this in terms of standards both for pharmacy professionals and pharmacy premises.²⁸

By becoming aware of various dementia charities, pharmacy professionals can review support materials for patients and carers, and can also signpost them to NHS support material. The GPhC gives examples of notable practice including:

·      developing a checklist of topics to be considered in pharmacies to make them 'dementia friendly';

·      a pharmacy team collaborating with their local medical centre to support patients showing early signs of dementia;

·      a pharmacy supporting Dementia Action Week;

·      a pharmacy developing services to meet the specific needs of elderly patients with dementia and other age-related conditions.