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DennyE Asked October 2014

Do you have services to dispense medication to elderly Mom?

Rosebush Oct 2014
If mom is able to take her "morning meds" if already placed in a medicine box, I know some smaller pharmacies will fill a medicine box each week (morning, lunch, dinner) but you need to return the box each week to be refilled. There does come a time when this is just not possible for the elder to do by themselves.

Donna1944 Oct 2014
We couldn't get someone to come morning and eve. To dispense meds, and they wanted $12 for each hour if they came.
I found a wonderful machine. $99 to install and show me how it works, 24 hr. hotline for help. $49.99 a month for rental. Moms health is MUCH improved.
Neither of moms doctors had a suggestion who to call.
It's called Philips Lifeline (home. Monitoring). One number for all services. 1888-632-3261. It tells her time for meds, says thank you when she removes the cup, and reminds her to drink extra fluids.
Had a dispenser from Lutheran services that rotated for each dose, dinged, and lights flashed. She figured out that she could turn it with her finger and that was the end of her taking the right meds when it went off. I was going crazy trying to get her to leave it alone. It was a lot cheaper. $39 to install and $14.95 a month.
Mom did good for nearly a year because she believed it couldn't be turned. You would hope (since she can't remember trying on shoes and they are still in the cart) that she would have forgotten when she accidentally turned it. The Lifeline dispenser is great. A wonderful guy at Lutheran Services (who provided the first dispenser). Found out about this one. I actually sent info to one of moms doctors about it, by request. I think we should share these findings with Drs. who haven't heard about them yet.
You can leave a message for me for more info.

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EaseLiving Oct 2014
It would depend on why assist is needed. Is it an issue with memory or cognition? Vision? Fine motor dexterity to deal with pills? There are different solutions depending on the cause of the diffficulty.

ferris1 Oct 2014
The people who answer questions on this site do not have the authority to order anything. We just share our knowledge. Contact your mother's doctor to have services in the home which can provide nurses who can dispense medication to your mother based on doctor's orders.

tellaboomer Oct 2014
MedMinder is a new "electronic" medication adherence product that might be worth looking into. It has several methods of reminding someone to take their meds and will notify others if there is noncompliance.

IKORWPA Oct 2014
There are machines called telemedicine. A machine is set up in her house and an automated voice will remind her of medicine and text a professional after a few prompts to take the medicine are not followed. A home health nurse or care management provider can direct you how to get one. If you have an IKOR office wher you live they have a vendor but all Home Health care agencies should have telemedicine.

mgcarter Oct 2014
Is your mother at home? Independent Living? Assisted Living?
My mother is a resident of AL and I pay about $250/mo. to have her meds handed to her. She couldn't seem to remember when or if she took her prescriptions before.

JimmyW Oct 2014
My wife lives at home. Medication given by me or her caregiver (40 hours average per week). She could never do by herself. In fact, I must watch or she would spit the meds out on occasion.

pamstegma Oct 2014
The doctor would order this kind of care, so call her MD.

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