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Objective: Residents of care homes need access to outdoors. This may improve behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and quality of life in residents living with dementia. Barriers including lack of accessibility and increased falls risk, which may be mitigated using dementia-friendly design. This prospective cohort study followed a group of residents in the first 6 months after the opening of a new dementia-friendly garden. Method: Nineteen residents participated. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory – Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH) and psychotropic medication use were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months. The facility's falls rate during this time and feedback from staff and residents' next of kin were collected. Results: Total NPI-NH scores decreased, though not significantly. Feedback was positive overall; the falls rate decreased. Usage of the garden was low. Conclusions: Despite its limitations, this pilot study adds to the literature about the importance of access to the outdoors for people who are experiencing BPSD. Staff remain concerned about falls risk despite the dementia-friendly design, and many residents do not access outdoors frequently. Further education may help to remove barriers to encouraging residents to access the outdoors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: General practitioners face many barriers to deprescribing psychotropic medications in people with dementia in nursing homes, including a lack of knowledge about their medication histories. This study explored the knowledge of family members about residents' medications and their willingness to support deprescribing. Methods: Sixty‐six family members of residents from seven residential aged care facilities participated in this cross‐sectional study. Participation involved nomination of recognised medications, rating their effectiveness and rating level of support for deprescribing. Results: Fifty‐five per cent of medications were recognised by family members; significantly fewer psychotropics were recognised than non‐psychotropic medications. Though rated as just as effective, support for deprescribing psychotropics was significantly higher. Most family members were agreeable to deprescribing with general practitioner support. Conclusions: Although there is a gap in family members' knowledge about psychotropic medications, overall they are supportive of deprescribing. Findings emphasise the need for psychoeducation among family members. Providing family members with a list of prescribed medications, specifying the type of and reason for prescription and side effects of each, is recommended to facilitate their advocacy for deprescribing on behalf of nursing home residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]