So I finally took an empty coffee can black top she can see them. She feels a little more independent and I can put the can out She sees them a little but it helps hope this helps someone I am going nuts
Your profile says your mom's primary ailment is incontinence. If she has incontinence and is unable to see her meds, I would consider providing her more around the clock care, so her meds and hygiene can be handled.
contact the local lighthouse for the blind. If her vision is that poor and her doctor agrees, then they will give her lessons on how to set up pills and things around the house to make it easier to manage. There are also bumpy stickons that can go on the pill bottles this way you can put letters she can feel on the pill bottles. best of luck!
Easy answer. Use a cassette case to put her meds in. Sunday through Saturday slots. Get two of different colors-one for day and one for night. How do I know this? Because my mother was legally blind. IT IS NOT A MUSIC CASSETTE CASE. IT CAN BE OBTAINED AT CVS.
If your mom can still recognize colors, put her pills in different colored containers and mark them if they are the 'same' for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday etc etc so she knows she is taking the meds every day. If the times or pills or days are different I would go with what JoAnne 29 said. Great idea.
My Mom is 94 years now. I noticed she was missing taking her pills, still in pill organizer. I started giving her her pills myself. She is too old now and unable to remember, see. She did for me....so now it is my turn.
First, my Mom had an eye examine and its not her eyes (she had cateract surgery) its her Dementia. Philips has a great dispenser that locks so the person can't play with their pills. It announces to take your pills. You push a large button and they are dispensed. managemypills/content/ medminder/pill-dispensers-2
there are pharmacy that will prepare her med in a small bag than you get stickers in put one be-be under it for morning meds under the sticker on the bag two be-be the next in so on
Can she distinguish colors and see well enough to distinguish the letters for different days?
We use color coded pillboxes, a different color for each day. Each little "tray" for each day is divided into categories for breakfast, lunch, supper and bedtime pills.
When you sort the pills for her, sort them by mealtime, then all she has to do is get the right little sectioned boxes.
But definitely do get her to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam.
And check the lighting in the area where the pills are normally kept, as well as where she sits during the day to ensure that there's adequate illumination. If she tries to read, encourage her to look at magazines such as Country and Country Extra which are primarily beautiful photos. Find the large print Reader's Digest magazines if they're still in publication.
I bought an electronic pill dispenser, maybe from Amazon that announces the pills delivery and will call you if the pills are not picked up. You load the medication in the machine every few weeks and they are delivered in small cups. It will dispense up to four times a day. Also, my Mom who is 96 battles eye problems. Her opthamologist said dry eyes are a problem with the elderly and cause as much damage to the cornea as glaucoma, etc. She may need moisrurizinf eye drops too.
At the dollar store they have plastic colored bowls we chose the dark blue. Each time mom took meds we put them in the bowl so she could feel them and take one at a time. The bowl kept them from rolling off the table. She has sever macular degeneration.
Amazon and also a company called functional solutions has a pill bottle magnifying glass that clips to the side of the bottle, and the pharmacy can use easy open tops
My mother had gotten so confused and forgetful, that I had to dispense her meds. She was living with me at the time, so it wasn't a problem. Also, a pill box helps, you could fill it for her.
Definitely get an eye exam --- cataracts, macular degeneration, lots of possibilities. But for all those having loved ones with challenges in taking their meds properly - - - there are med dispensers that you can buy online and a family member sets it up. A bell rings at the times you create and the slot with meds for that time frame opens up for the person to remove the meds and take them. More info on line but it helped me to keep my Mom independent a little longer. I recently passed it on to a neighbor who was having the same issue with her folks. She says it is working great for them as well. Different bells and whistles available from different providers so if you go this route, read up and see what options you need. Good luck.
It will give you peace of mind if an ophthalmologist sees her for a definite diagnosis. My mom at the age of 89 was diagnosed to have very thick cataracts in both eyes. About 2 years prior she already complained that she couln't see her food. Then I noticed that she gropes her way to the bathroom even on daylight. After her eyevoperation, everything for her was beautiful. She appreciated the different colors on TV, her eyes brightened up, and she was very happy. She's now 97 and still with good eyesight.
Philips has a great dispenser that locks so the person can't play with their pills. It announces to take your pills. You push a large button and they are dispensed. managemypills/content/
medminder/pill-dispensers-2
We use color coded pillboxes, a different color for each day. Each little "tray" for each day is divided into categories for breakfast, lunch, supper and bedtime pills.
When you sort the pills for her, sort them by mealtime, then all she has to do is get the right little sectioned boxes.
But definitely do get her to an ophthalmologist for an eye exam.
And check the lighting in the area where the pills are normally kept, as well as where she sits during the day to ensure that there's adequate illumination. If she tries to read, encourage her to look at magazines such as Country and Country Extra which are primarily beautiful photos. Find the large print Reader's Digest magazines if they're still in publication.
When my mom was no longer able to take her meds because of memory loss, it was time for AL. She could see the pills but could not manage them--at all.
A year and a half later, she is in AL and getting her meds and she does have cataracts now.
So, it is both and. You should definitely have her eyes checked.
Good luck!