Old age makes it harder for people to adhere to pill-taking schedules. Thankfully, a smart pill dispenser can help prevent life-threatening mistakes.
Do you know that each year, thousands of seniors are placed in nursing homes for medication management reasons? A mix-up in medications can have deadly consequences. And if pills aren’t taken as prescribed, your or your patient could end up worse off.
If you on the other hand forget and overdose, you could also escalate health issues and end up in the emergency room. According to the American Geriatrics Society, each year one in three elderly persons deals with unwanted drug reactions due to poor prescription management.
Smart pill dispensers do the thinking
A smart pill dispenser is now a critical tool in self care or home healthcare for anyone, regardless of age. Smart pill dispensers are very easy to set up. All pill dispensers have multiple compartments for each dose, and some dispensers like Hero Health, have nearly 30 compartments.
To use one, the only thing you have to do is fill the pill tray, then lock their tamper-proof cover. One of their most useful functions is that they let you program multiple medication reminders each day. They also have large LED displays for visual signals, and many also have a mobile app that’s usually optional to use.
Smart pill dispensers are easy to set up — as simple as setting up your alarm clock. When it’s time to take a dose, the dispenser will beep, and the compartment will open so that you or the patient can take the dosage.
Smart pill dispenser benefits
Better adherence to prescription taking
If the senior you love has a busy day, they could quickly get distracted and forget their medications. The pill dispenser will alert them either visually or audibly and ensure that the dosages are taken on time. And if you or they also have your dispenser’s mobile app, that will also track your medications and remind you or them.
Prevents errors
Seniors have a very high chance of skipping doses or taking the wrong meds. A pill dispenser makes it easy to remember, since they do not have to read doctor notes. They only need to pick their meds from the compartment once the gadget beeps. Smart pill dispensers also have back up batteries that ensure they work during travel or a blackout.
Easier organization
These prescription managers have compartments that can fit a multitude of drugs at a go. When the doses are all used up, the gadget’s lid will pop open to allow access to the compartments.
Easy to use
The smart pill dispenser also eliminates the use of labels, which is excellent for the aging eye. There’s no small print to deal with. Instead, there is a large LED display, which is super easy to set up.
Pill reminder apps: another smart choice
Even if you don’t want to invest in a smart pill dispenser, you can still manage your pills or other medications on your own with just an app. If you search for “pill reminder apps” or “medication management apps” on your favorite app store, you’ll find lots of choices.
Two of the most highly rated pill reminder apps are Dosecast and Medisafe, both of which offer free versions and paid upgrades. Whichever medication management apps or smart pill dispenser you choose to try, be sure to first read the most recent user reviews.
In the long run, a pill dispenser, medication management apps, and other mobile health apps all give you more control over how you care for yourself or loved ones. That’s because smart pill dispensers and pill reminder apps not only give people more independence, but better health habits.
