My MIL is mixing up when to take her medications. I am curious about the automatic dispensers. I see some are very pricey, but we figure they are actually less expensive than adding the very basic medication management service at her senior housing building. What has been people's experience?
I work for the company that is mentioned below -- Omcare -- which is a medication dispenser that also allows video connection to loved ones and providers. And you're absolutely correct that they are actually way less expensive than medication management because it's a cost for the unit then a very inexpensive monthly subscription. Some medication management can run up to $100/day!
We haven't gone commercial yet, but if you're interested, I can get you on our email list to be notified when we do. And if your mother in law happens to be in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, she could be eligible to use our unit for free for three months as part of our pilot program.
https://omcare.com
Mom had a bad habit of timing her medications to suit herself. When she moved to AL we chose to have them administer her meds. It was the best thing we ever did, Mom was taking her meds as orders because the nurse would wait to be sure she took each pill. No dropped pills, no lost pills left on plates and counters, no last minute dashes to the store to pick up a prescription she "just has to have" because she only has one pill left, etc. And the nurses could monitor her meds and make recommendations on stopping or adding meds.
Ask pharmacist which meds can be taken at the same time. Tell him you are going to try a dispenser and need 1 or 2 times a day to make it less confusing for her. It may turn out that everything can be done at one time. If that is the case, you might be able to order her meds from the drug store in prepackaged dated packages. Then set up some kind of alarm or coincide the time when you will call (if you talk to her each day).
It's round with little compartments to put the pills in. When it's time to take a pill, it will ring to alert. It stops ringing when the pills are taken out...but will continue to ring for 1/2 hour if pills are not taken out. When it's time to take a pill again, it rotates around so that those particular pills can be dispensed. I bought it through Amazon. It was one of the best purchases I made to help make sure mom was taking her meds. Thankfully instructions for setting it up and programming it were very clear.
*Depending on how many times/day medication is needed, they can be set up for somewhere around 1-4 weeks (if more that 1 diff time/day, it uses up more slots. Mom only took 1x/day, so it was good for 1 month.)
*IF the person is capable/does take them, it reduces the need to stop in daily or hire someone to check.
*It does reduce the chances of the person over-medicating.
Con:
*As noted, battery can die, but replaced on a reg basis can avoid that
*It doesn't mean the person actually takes the medication
When we decided to bring in aides, it was initially only 1hr/day to check on mom and for them to check her medication (they can't dispense, but they can check the dispenser, point out missed medication and encourage the person to take it.) Secondary was to get her used to having someone there, with plans to increase time and care needed, so she could remain in her own place longer.
Before bringing in the aides, they sent a nurse who administered a test, in mom's place, with us there. I was already aware that early dementia was the issue, but this was confirmation (test was better than those a PCP uses and was more "comfortable" for mom, being in her own place, less threatening and 2 of us were there as additional "comfort" and to be aware of the results.) This was covered by Medicare. One of her recommendations was to use a dispenser, as mom wouldn't remember if she had taken them, could miss doses or take too many doses. This only worked for less than 2 months, because mom was adamant that she was fine, independent and could cook. She wasn't and couldn't. But, she refused to let them in. They even sent their "expert" to chat with her and that woman was lucky mom couldn't pick her up and throw her out!
So, I would say if it's just an elder who needs some assistance with taking medications, these can work well. If you're dealing with dementia, even the early stages, it can help, but it won't guarantee the medications are taken. IF there is another person living there, who IS capable, they can be the monitor/reminder.
Cameras can help, but unless the person takes the medications when dispensed, in view of the camera, you still have no idea whether they were taken. The one we got had visual and audible alarms, but again, if not heard or seen, or just ignored, they can still miss doses.
Once mom refused the aides, we had to start looking at MC places. She refused to consider moving ANYWHERE, but esp not AL! The dispenser was okay and she did take some, but there were missed doses.
It doesn't need to be top of the line (aka most expensive.) It all depends on the person this is for and what "backup" is available (a capable house mate, camera or person to check.)
I think they are a good option for people with MCI or who just have a hard time remembering pill schedules, and perhaps for those with early dementia who can still function being on their own while the caregiver is at work, but they are in no way the solution for those who are not fully on board or for those with dementia who for whatever reason aren't being checked on daily or at least several times a week.
We still found many pills were still in the slots or on the floor. His dementia was just too progressed for him to use it.
Now that he is here, I hand them to him with a cup of water and watch to make sure he takes them
Most dispensers I have seen run on batteries. No pills are dispensed if the battery is dead. Just a thought.
But I would find them on the floor all over the condo.
The blister packs worked for sorting the meds, but he still dropped them from time to time and was always unaware of doing so. I know my Dad at 92 cannot pick up anything off the floor without using a grabber and he could not see a pill on the floor either.