We use this product for my mil. https://www.livefineproducts.com/collections/pill-dispensers/products/smart-wifi-automatic-pill-dispenser. There was a bit of a learning curve for setup at the beginning but now it works great for us. My mil is still able to live alone and for her twice-daily dosing we refill it every 2 weeks. I can check the app to see if she’s taken it. There is an alarm that says “It’s time to take your medicine” and beeps and my mil goes right to it. A door opens for that dose and she has to turn the machine over (dropping the pills into her hand) for the alarm to stop. Of course if you have someone who does not want to take pills, this won’t work, but for simply forgetting to take them, it’s been great. Every now and then we find a pill on the floor. Some of them are so tiny they are easy to lose and not know you’ve dropped them.
No known deficiencies? Try a phone app like iPhone Health, perhaps in conjunction with an Apple Watch or similar. Also allows for as needed medications, and checks for adverse interactions.
Tell us more about who the reminder or dispenser is for, how much help they have available, what they have tried already, and what issues have been observed.
No dementia, but limited vision? Set audio reminders on Alexa or similar and set up pills in containers easily identified by touch. Have someone set up the containers for a week or whatever ahead of time.
Mild dementia but follows directions well over the phone? Call and walk through taking the medication from prefilled containers. Maybe use an Echo Show or similar for a video call.
Progressing dementia with a risk of skipping doses or taking extra doses? You are approaching the end of safe medication handling. Automated dose dispenser with lockout from future doses and video call observation might or might not work for a while.
Confer with pts PCP to 1) be sure that the pt is capable of even using any type of medication reminder system and medicating self. One cannot assume that any device will assure meds being taken appropriately. 2) then ask the PCP ( PRimary care physician) which device to use , if any. 3. ) A medication reminder device cannot be used as a crutch to sometimes avoid other reality such as the pt. actually needing other health care support to be sure meds are taken as directed.
For today's caregivers, electronics are an immediate "go-to" for most things. But Mom, or elder, may not be able to use computerized reminders, especially if the beginnings of dementia are present! Learning a new procedure, even with as few as only 2 steps, may be more difficult than using older, more familiar memory aids/reminders. .
Mom takes about 15 medications a day and recently left assisted living to stay with granddaughter (her funds are low and the AL facility was private pay only). She tends to forget to take all of her medications. She does have a smartphone so I will suggest the health app with reminders.
We had mom's pharmacy pack her daily meds in blister packs. All Mom had to do was follow the day of the week and time of day. That worked until she kept forgetting what day it was (although we had a clock that showed that). We then had to take the packs away (she thought she had already taken them or would take too many during a day) and send someone over a couple of times a day to distribute the pills.
Even the best medication reminder will not be good enough if the person is not cognizant to understand that 1) there are medications that need to be taken. 2) will take the medications that are dispensed when they are dispensed. Is the person able to take medications themselves? Are they living alone? There are automatic dispensers. There are dispensers that are locked so that overdosing is usually not a problem. And there are plain basic daily pill cases. And there are pharmacies that will pack medications together. A little more info as to who this is for (condition and are they cognizant? and are they living alone?) If medication has become a problem for someone living alone it may be time for a caregiver or for that person to move. Either in with a family member or to AL or MC. (type of facility determined by level of care required)
Tajann: My mother's physician dictated that she use cassette holders, one color for daytime meds and another color for nighttime meds. It worked generally okay except when mom took a pill out and placed it on a saucer.
Tell us more about who the reminder or dispenser is for, how much help they have available, what they have tried already, and what issues have been observed.
No dementia, but limited vision? Set audio reminders on Alexa or similar and set up pills in containers easily identified by touch. Have someone set up the containers for a week or whatever ahead of time.
Mild dementia but follows directions well over the phone? Call and walk through taking the medication from prefilled containers. Maybe use an Echo Show or similar for a video call.
Progressing dementia with a risk of skipping doses or taking extra doses? You are approaching the end of safe medication handling. Automated dose dispenser with lockout from future doses and video call observation might or might not work for a while.
One cannot assume that any device will assure meds being taken appropriately.
2) then ask the PCP ( PRimary care physician) which device to use , if any.
3. ) A medication reminder device cannot be used as a crutch to sometimes avoid other reality such as the pt. actually needing other health care support to be sure meds are taken as directed.
It's a safety issue.
I took my daughter’s advice and use the alarm on my iPhone. If someone doesn’t have a smartphone my recommendation would not help you.
Learning a new procedure, even with as few as only 2 steps, may be more difficult than using older, more familiar memory aids/reminders.
.
1) there are medications that need to be taken.
2) will take the medications that are dispensed when they are dispensed.
Is the person able to take medications themselves? Are they living alone?
There are automatic dispensers.
There are dispensers that are locked so that overdosing is usually not a problem.
And there are plain basic daily pill cases.
And there are pharmacies that will pack medications together.
A little more info as to who this is for (condition and are they cognizant? and are they living alone?)
If medication has become a problem for someone living alone it may be time for a caregiver or for that person to move. Either in with a family member or to AL or MC. (type of facility determined by level of care required)
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