Dementia affects all aspects of a person's life, including memory, functioning, emotions and social relationships. Dementia care is a national priority because of an increasingly older population and the effect of the condition on individuals, families and communities. Early recognition, and appropriate care and treatment improve the experiences of people with dementia, particularly in hospital or care settings. Nurses can work collaboratively with pharmacists to promote health and maintain the wellbeing of people in the early stages of dementia.