Table 5: Practical strategies to promote treatment adherence.

· Develop an easy way to identify patients and families with weaknesses in cognition and cognitive flexibility by making the information visible (e.g. visible colored notes in the front of paper charts or alerts in EMR). This allows the physician, in advance, to tailor the best approach on how to communicate the treatment recommendations.

· Explore through CDI, if verbal, written, and visual or repeat back of recommendations best serves the patient.

· Provide handouts with visual cues to explain the diagnosis and how medication is to be taken.

· Consider asking permission to send SMS (short message service) as reminders of appointments, medication times or pending lab work, if possible.

· Have accessible updated information about the overall cost of medications most frequently prescribed. Affordable and once daily medications should be considered.

· Have awareness regarding the distance of the patient’s pharmacy in relation to their home and what type of transportation is needed to access or if delivery services are offered.

· When liquid medication is prescribed, provide a visual handout outlining how to measure the prescribed amount with a household item or provide a syringe with markings.

· Inquire about other household member’s medical status and their compliance with treatment. This provides a window on what to expect about the patient’s own care.