Medication Reminder For Dementia Patients

Get Some Outside Help

A friendly neighbour would be helpful to make sure medication is taken. For example, the friend will help in the event that they are struggling to open pill bottles or blister packs. Again, let the neighbours know about your loved ones condition. The goal, you can give them a call if youre worried. Alternatively, many professional home carers can be put in charge of ensuring that the person with dementia remembers to take their medication.

Flashing LITE-BOX GUIDES Loved Ones to The Right Pills

Pill Box With Alarms Or Reminders

A pill box with an alarm can help keep seniors safe and healthy by ensuring they always take their medications as prescribed. These are an upgrade to a standard pill box by adding the alarm and reminder function.

The advantages of a pill box with an alarm are that it helps seniors stay on track with their medication and it can be a lifesaver in an emergency. The alarm will sound if the medication is not taken and will remind the senior when their next dose is due.

The drawbacks of a pill box with an alarm are that they can be expensive and seniors may not want to use one if they do not have to. Some people find them difficult to use because of the buttons and screens on them.

What Are The Most Common Issues Seniors Have With Medication

There are a few common issues that seniors have with medication. They may forget to take their medication, they might get their medications confused, they may not be able to swallow pills, or they may not be able to get the medication into their system.

A pill dispenser can help make taking medications easier for seniors by reminding them to take the right medication at the right time. Automated dispensers give access to only the medication that they need to take at that time for proper dosing.

Of course, it is important that the system be set up properly in the first place. Some adults with dementia may need assistance loading their medication dispensers. But, thankfully, most hold at least a weeks worth of medications at a time.

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What Are Supportive Aids

Medication reminders are often referred to as supportive aids or assistive technology and they are any system or device that increases the ease with which a task can be performed or assists an individual to perform a task that they otherwise wouldnt be able to do. In terms of assisting with medication reminders for dementia patients, they can range from pill dispensers and Webster packs to apps and personal trackers.

Types Of Medication Administration Systems

There are several different types of medication dispensers. They range from the simplicity of a pill box to a complex, programmable dispenser run by a mini-computer or controlled remotely that automatically dispense pills at the right time and alerts a caregiver if the pill is not removed by the person. Here is an overview of a few of the kinds of pill boxes and dispensers available.

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Hero Automatic Pill Dispenser

• Cant handle gummies, liquids, or halved/quartered pills .
• The setup might require assistance based on the tech-savviness of the user.

When you see this device, you might not immediately realize that its a medication dispenser. Its contemporary design makes it more like an elegant coffee machine.

But make no mistake this pill dispenser is more than just good looks. Its a locked and timed pill dispenser that boasts of powerful features both for patients and caregivers.

Upon setting up the device for the first time, you need to connect to the Internet, create an account at Hero Health, and set your medication schedule. You can also add caregivers to alert them of your dose activity.

It might look complicated to use the machine, but refilling is actually a breeze. This pill organizer can accommodate up to 10 different pills. Simply put each pill type into a separate container and then follow the on-screen instructions when placing the containers inside the device.

The device makes a beep sound and a button with a flashing light to tell you its time to take your medications.

Just push the button and Hero gives you all of the pills you need at the appropriate dose. If the cup remains on the tray for more than 15 minutes, both the user and the caregivers will receive a text message.

Because it has so many helpful features that work automatically, the Hero Pill Dispenser, is hands down, the best automatic pill dispenser for most people with dementia.

Technological Innovations For Those With Dementia

January 9, 2019

While time has not brought a cure for dementia, it has brought new technological innovations which can ease the caregiving burden and help keep those diagnosed more comfortable and safe.

Learn more about these innovations for dementia and how they can help your parents and senior loved ones.

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Frequently Asked Questions For Electronic Pill Box Users

My parents tell me they dont need a medication reminder.The fact of the matter is that 90% of seniors make medication errors. The problem is that no one will admit it. Even those users who are resistant at first, will relay on their MED-Q Pill Box and wonder how they got by without it.

Can you set it for two pills a day?Absolutely! The front row will flash, holding the morning pill and the back row will flash holding the afternoon/evening pills. Four times a day users require the combo package.

What happens if some one misses their pill time?MED-Q electronic pill dispenser will continually repeat its alarm/alert cycle every 25 minutes to ensure that the pills are taken as close to the programmed time as possible. If the user is away for a period of time, the alarm/alerts will remind the user upon return and not stop until they have taken their pills.

How many pills does the MED-Q hold?Each Individual Compartment will hold up to 23 full size aspirins 23 pills X 14. With all the individual Compartments filled, the MED-Q has a capacity of 322 full size aspirins.

What type of Batteries does MED-Q use?Simple to insert and inexpensive to buy, 2 AA batteries power the MED-Q electronic pillbox. With average use, the battery life is 1 ½ years plus.

Can the MED-Q be used for vitamins and supplements?The MED-Q is perfect for vitamins and supplements. Maximum benefits can be achieved with a consistent daily regiment. No more forgetting and trying to catch up

Early

Pill Box Medication Reminder With Alarms

There are many medication reminders with alarms available. For example, the Med-Q Medication reminder for dementia suffer. A smart reminder will guide the user to the correct doses. If the person you care for forgets to take their pills, a smart reminder will repeat its alarms and reminders. They twill have an alarm to alert the person that its time to take the pills.

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Message Reminders & Prompts

Reminder messages serve a number of purposes, such as reminding a loved one to take his/her medication, to lock the door, to close the windows, or that he/she has a doctors appointment.

Voice RemindersThere are voice reminder devices that allow caregivers to customize reminders for their loved ones with dementia. Some voice-controlled technology allow caregivers to set a specific time for the reminder to play, while others work via motion sensor. Devices that work via detection of motion can be very beneficial for those who are prone to wandering, as caregivers can pre-record a message that reminds a loved one not to leave the home at nighttime as he/she approaches the door. For persons with dementia who only have minor memory issues, a small digital recorder, such as a memo pen or one that can be hung around the neck, might be helpful. With this type of device, persons can record reminders for themselves and play them back later.

A more inexpensive option than voice reminder devices is written reminders. Examples include sticky notes, signs, and dry wipe boards . Written notes can be used for any number of reminders, such as brushing ones teeth, putting on warm clothes, or indicating what is inside of a drawer. Please note, written reminders might not be suitable for persons in middle to late stage dementia, as they might remove the reminders or might have difficulty understanding certain words.

Medication Reminder Device For The Elderly Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment

• Encyclopedia of Lifestyle Medicine & Health2012
• The SAGE Encyclopedia of Abnormal and Clinical Psychology2017
• Key Concepts in Social Gerontology2010
• Ira R. Katz and more…Encyclopedia of Health & Aging
• Ada Sue Hinshaw and more…Handbook of Clinical Nursing Research1999
• Encyclopedia of Health and Behavior2004

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Common Memory Aids Common Memory Aids

Calendar or diary Calendar or diary.

Put a calendar, wallchart or noticeboard in a place where you will see it frequently on the fridge or by the telephone, for example. You could use a whiteboard to note activities or tasks for the day, and wipe them off as you do them.

A notebook or large week to view diary can be helpful. You can write down things you want to remember, such as lists of things you need to do, or have done. Keep it somewhere easy to see, such as by the telephone or in a fixed place in the kitchen.

Get into a routine of checking a diary, calendar, noticeboard or whiteboard perhaps when you wake up in the morning, every mealtime, or every time you make a drink.

Cross the days date off your calendar before you go to bed, so that you are certain about the date when you get up the next day.

Keep a journal Keep a journal.

Write a few sentences or stick photos in a daily journal. You can look back in it to remind you what you have done or how you felt.

A journal may also give you something to show others or to talk about. You could collect mementos of things youve done to add to the journal as reminders. For example, you could keep a receipt from a meal out, train tickets, or a programme from an event.

Calendar clock Calendar clock.

You could use an automatic calendar clock. As well as showing the time, it will remind you of the date and day of the week.

Shopping list Shopping list.

Contact numbers Contact numbers.

These include:

Take Meds With Your Meals

Medications are also easier to manage if you need to take them with a meal. This means that you can manage them along with your normal meal schedule. If you do a lot of cooking and eating at home, one of the best ways to keep track of with-meal medications is to store sorted doses where you keep your food. In the pantry next to your favorite sandwich bread, or in a sealed container in the fridge next to your breakfast milk. It’s like leaving a note in the fridge for the family: you can’t miss it.

This also works well if you prepare meals for a relative or for yourself ahead of time. Leaving a small cup of sorted medications next to the slice of turkey and dome of potatoes makes it easy to simply consume along with the rest of the meal. No need to remember to grab them from the pill cabinet or remember which bottle to grab.

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Timed Or Automatic Pill Dispenser

Automatic pill dispensers provide a compelling combination of secure storage and timely reminders.

The pills are preloaded into the dispenser and programmed to be delivered at the correct time. When the pill is dispensed, an alarm sounds.

Automatic pill dispensers for home use can be purchased for less than $100. The drawback of the automatic dispenser is that someone must invest the time to fill and program the machine.

Reasons For Medication Reminders

Non-adherence to medicines is common in patients with chronic disease and in those who are prescribed preventive medication. It can be intentional, unintentional, or both. Individuals with dementia often fall into the unintentional category due to confusion, misunderstanding or forgetfulness.

Individuals can be often confused by the number and variety of medications they need to take, and adherence has been known to be associated with the complexity of their health requirements. Carers should therefore aim to simplify the process as much as possible. For patients with cognitive impairment, the support of a carer to encourage or assist with medication administration is often essential.

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Technological Innovations For Caregivers And Those Living With Dementia

Dementia can be frightening and overwhelming for both caregivers and loved ones living with the disease. However, new technologies can help ease anxiety, establish routine and improve the quality of life for everyone involved.

This kind of assistive technology can promote autonomy and independence, manage potential safety risks around the home and reduce stress.

Here is a list of the top technological innovations for caregivers and those living with dementia today:

Is The Dispenser Adequate For Their Medication And Dosage Needs

Whichever system you choose, you want to make sure it can hold everything it needs including several days worth of medication. Compare the specific times per day the system can administer dosages with the number of times the senior takes medications. Also, make sure the cups or pill holders are large enough to hold the number of pills taken at each interval.

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Tabtime Super 8 Daily Pill Reminder

Pill reminders can often be difficult to hear for elderly users, and won’t include enough space for all your pills the was designed to solve these problems. It’s designed to be easy to use for everyone, and features an easy-open magnetic hatch that’s ideal for those with weak, shaky hands or Parkinson’s disease. With a loud audio alarm, flashing red LED light and large, spaced-out buttons, this reminder is as easy-to-use as can be.

Key Features: Loud alarm with flashing light ensure it’s heard easy opening to suit all users

Effective Tips For Medication Adherence

If your loved one with dementia struggles with other aspects of taking medication, try the following:

• Create a calm and quiet environment. If your loved one is reluctant to take their medications, make sure you stay calm and supportive when it is time to give them their medications. You can also try to eliminate distractions or play soothing music to calmly prepare them for medication time.
• Help reduce medicinal side effects. Your elderly loved one with dementia may refuse to take their medications due to side effects that make them feel nauseous, agitated, dizzy, or uncomfortable. Talk to their doctor about how to reduce these symptoms to improve the situation.
• Watch out for drug interactions. If your loved one sees multiple doctors who all prescribe different medications, drug interactions can easily be missed. Be sure at least one physician is aware of all medications, vitamins, and supplements to help minimize dangerous interactions.
• Create a routine to fit their lifestyle. Its crucial to find the right time of day to take medications. For example, if your loved one with dementia displays aggressive behaviors early in the morning or shows sundowning symptoms in the evening, try picking a time later in the morning after theyve had their breakfast.

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Electronic Pill Dispensers With Remote Monitoring

There are a number of pill dispensers with remote monitoring features that can be a great help for seniors with dementia. These pill dispensers can alert caregivers when a dose is missed, so there is no need to worry about forgetting to give the medication.

Additionally, these dispensers can also track how often the medication is taken, which can help keep patients on track and ensure they are taking their prescription medications as prescribed.

Some systems even prompt the senior to take their medications through an app or phone call from a central monitoring service.

Issues Related To Medication Use And Coping Strategies

Table 4 provides a summary of specific issues to medication use as reported by people with dementia and family carers alongside any coping strategies reported to address them. Exemplars in the form of quotes from included studies are also included in Table 4 to show how challenges, coping strategies, and the overall domains affecting medication use were derived. People with dementia reported issues in all four domains . However, there were few solutions that they have employed to aid medication use. Most of the challenges reported by family carers related to the medication and knowledge/educational and communication domains these were matched with corresponding solutions. Table 4 also highlight challenges faced by the dyads and the reactive strategies that they have used are similar in nature . There were however challenges faced by both people with dementia and family carers that remain unresolved, eg, managing challenges relating to communicating with people with dementia and knowledge about indication of prescribed medication .

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Side Effects Of Drugs Used To Treat Hallucinations And Aggression

These medications, which are antipsychotics, are prescribed to reduce hallucinatory or aggressive episodes.

• Abilify : Anxiety, constipation, difficulty speaking, loss of balance control, tremor, fatigue
• Clozaril : Blurred vision, confusion, constipation, fast heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, tremor
• Geodon : Headache, anxiety, tremor, constipation, rash, dizziness
• Haldol : Constipation, drowsiness, low blood pressure, uncontrollable restlessness and movements, dry mouth
• Risperdal : Aggressive behavior, difficulty speaking or swallowing, loss of balance control, loss of muscle control, and trouble sleeping
• Seroquel : Chills, cold sweats, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness
• Zyprexa : Bloating, body aches, confusion, fever, weight gain, constipation, dizziness