Question: I’m worried about my mother. She is 84 years old, lives alone, and has some memory loss. For the past six months, I’ve been calling her every day to remind her to take her prescription medications. I’m afraid that she might not know which medications to take and what time to take them without my daily call and reassurance. What kind of help is available to make sure that she is safe and taking her medications?
Answer: There are a handful of options to help make sure your mom takes her medicines as prescribed. Please know that while ADRC is here to share options to help your mother manage her medications, if you are concerned about safety, talking with her healthcare provider or pharmacist may be the first step. They will be able to explain any risks associated with mismanagement of her prescribed medications.
Alarms or written notes may help to serve as the needed reminder, but if you have found that this is not enough, you may need to consider other alternatives. If your loved one is comfortable with using a smartphone or tablet, there are several free apps that provide notifications and can be personalized based on your loved one’s medications.
Medication planners or organizers come in many forms and can be purchased from most pharmacies and large general retailers at a relatively low cost. They may be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly, and some are labeled for multiple doses per day. These planners are best for individuals that just need a way to keep their medications organized to know what pills to take and when to take them. These may not be the best solution if there is confusion on the day of the week or time of the day. If set-up is a concern, most pharmacies have low or no-cost options to blister or bubble back medications so all doses are labeled by day and time by the pharmacy. This option eliminates concerns about set-up errors and there is no additional purchase necessary.
Medication dispensers are also available to purchase. These devices dispense medications at preprogrammed times. Some have alarms on them that sound when the dose is dispensed and can be programmed to contact a loved one if the pills are not removed from the dispenser area. Depending on the features and where you purchase the item, there are different costs and fees to consider. Although the devices may be costly, they can eliminate the need for a caregiver to be present to assist with daily doses and help to promote independence.
It is possible that if your mother is struggling with managing her medications, she may need help in other areas of her daily life. If this is the case, or if you believe the other options would not meet her needs, additional help in the home might be a consideration. Agencies known as home health agencies have caregivers that can visit your loved one on a regular basis to help with tasks such as personal cares, medication management, laundry, chores, etc.
ADRC is here to talk with you about the process of finding home care and to help connect you to available options.
