Medication Management & Medical Appointments (Part 1)

Presented by: Catherine McDermott, PMHNP Description: This presentation from Town Square University Parkway explores the essential role of medication management, dementia care, and navigating the healthcare system for older adults and their caregivers. Catherine McDermott, PMHNP, explains the importance of person-centered care, emphasizing that every individual living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and cognitive impairment deserves a customized care plan that reflects their unique needs, goals, and quality of life. The discussion highlights the value of building a trusted healthcare team that includes primary care providers, neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatric specialists, psychologists, and social workers to support both the individual and their family caregivers. A major focus of the presentation is medication management for seniors and the growing risks of polypharmacy. Caregivers learn how multiple prescriptions from different specialists can increase the likelihood of falls, hospitalizations, adverse drug interactions, and cognitive decline. Catherine encourages families to advocate for their loved ones by maintaining accurate medication lists, communicating changes with healthcare providers, and regularly evaluating whether medications remain necessary. She also stresses the importance of keeping community partners, such as adult day centers and memory care programs, informed of medical updates to better support participants throughout the day. The presentation also provides valuable education on the differences between palliative care and hospice care, helping families understand when the focus of treatment should shift from prolonging life to maximizing comfort and quality of life. Throughout the discussion, Catherine reinforces that caregivers should never navigate the dementia journey alone. Resources such as caregiver support groups, respite care, dementia education, cognitive support programs, and adult day services can help families reduce stress while allowing older adults to remain engaged and connected. At Town Square University Parkway, we believe that hope exists after a dementia diagnosis. Through our medical-model adult day center, memory care programming, free caregiver support groups, respite services, educational classes, and comprehensive dementia resources, we are committed to helping seniors and their families thrive while navigating the challenges of aging and cognitive change.