title: Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia in Australia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dementia is a national health priority in Australia. Most people with dementia are over the age of 65 years, have a number of comorbidities and experience a trajectory of functional decline. General practitioners (GPs) have an important role in the diagnosis and management of people with dementia. The Cognitive Decline Partnership Centre's Clinical practice guidelines and principles of care for people with dementia (Guidelines) was recently approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article describes the recommendations within the Guidelines that are of greatest relevance to GPs, including those addressing diagnosis, living well, managing behavioural and psychological symptoms, supporting carers, and the palliative approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Guidelines synthesise current evidence in dementia care and emphasise: timely diagnosis; encouraging the person with dementia to exercise, eat well and keep doing as much for themselves as possible; supporting and training carers to provide care; and reducing prescription of potentially harmful medications where possible.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dyer
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laver
authors.forename: Constance D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pond
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cumming
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crotty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents