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Best Medication Dispensers for the Elderly

Best Medication Dispensers for the Elderly

By Tamás Ő.Tamás Ő. Verified by Sander D.Sander D. Last updated: July 11, 2024 (0)
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No matter how careful they try to be, medication overdoses occur alarmingly often to elderly residents. Official research indicates that this adverse effect is a result of a well-known paradox: while an aging body has a reduced biological capability to break down and exert medicine, seniors have the highest medicine consumption of all age groups. To make matters worse, elders often suffer from absent-mindedness or forgetfulness, which leads to mixing up pills, further increasing the chance of overdosing. Thus, to prevent ill-fated accidents and ease the mind of other family members, elders should opt for advanced medication dispensers (reminders), devices that ensure patients take the correct amount of medicine in a timely manner.

Why a medication dispenser

Med dispensers underwent huge improvements over the past few years. Forget the old plastic containers with several slots for different pills, as now the medication dispenser is an electronic device capable of housing up to a whole month’s supply of medicine. The system can be programmed to produce an audio prompt reminding the aging resident that it’s time to take the pills. Advanced models are also capable of giving further instructions or reminding the user about other, non-pill medication. It goes without saying that med dispensers play an important role in preventing over- and underdoses by ensuring promptly scheduled medication consumption for aging adults and patients with cognitive impairments. High-class devices provided by medical alert companies may also boast notification features that report missed doses, refilling, and dispense errors to the caregivers.

How an automatic medication dispenser works

A device dispensing a pre-set amount of medicine in a timely fashion relieves a lot of work from the shoulders of caregivers and family members. Each unit has several small slots for the pills, which, after replenishing the stock, can be locked, preventing children or seniors from fiddling with it. The programming of these devices is usually done by the company or the medical alert team, thus you only need to submit the schedule; however, you can change the timing for reminders later on as well. Some units are fully remote and powered by batteries, while others need a power outlet, but have backup batteries in case of a power outage. In other words, you can expect your med dispenser to stay operational in every situation.

Recommended medication dispensers

Med dispensers come in many shapes and forms: you can buy standalone models or opt for one through a medical alert company. So let us show you three ideal picks for your aging relative.

Automatic pill dispenser from e-pill medication reminders

Don’t let its massiveness deceive you: e-pill Medication Reminder’s dispenser is fully automated and designed for both residential and institutional purposes. It comes with a little bowl to hold the dispensed pills, which can be activated by pulling the crank. It’s capable of sending 6 alarms per day, while the tray can store more than a week’s worth of medication. The inner med tray is fully secured and can only be opened with a key. The unit is meant to handle a large quantity of pills, but using it is as simple as pouring tea, so it’s a fun activity for seniors and caregivers rather than a chore.

LiveFine automatic pill dispenser

LiveFine’s Automatic Pill Dispenser is based on a design commonly used in the industry. The motorized carousel has 28 slots, which can contain up to 18 pills respectively, and it automatically dispenses the scheduled dose of pills. It uses visual and audio notifications when the time has come, which can be prolonged up to 30 minutes, and it allows up to 6 alerts per day. The device is lightweight, but keep in mind that there is no lock or key code protecting the contents.

Automatic medication dispenser & organizer by Alert1

Although Alert1’s handy Automatic Medication Dispenser & Organizer must be purchased separately from the medical alert system, it serves any aging relative well. It has a round, tamper-proof tray that can be locked with a key. It’s capable of sending four notifications per day, all of which can be synchronized with the digital clock. It also includes 48-hour backup batteries, so the senior’s pills are securely dispensed even in case of a power failure. Aside from the above the unit comes with an additional pill tray and switch tray for convenient pill management.

Medical alert button as an extra safety net

Regardless of the high quality of your med dispenser, you cannot disclose the possibility of an overdose. And no matter how advanced they are, none of the units are capable of calling for help if an accident happens. This is why you need an extra safety net: a medical alert system backed by a monitoring team that has the wearer’s medical history on file. Even better, most medical alert companies offer medication dispensers or med reminders alongside help buttons and environmental detectors, plus they can even set the dispensing schedule for you.

In short, using a medical alert system alongside a med dispenser is the best way to enjoy duple protection in one package.

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