By Ann Julian, LCSW-R, MSW
Special to Alzheimer's Weekly
Week of October 21 - October 27 

One of the most frustrating dilemmas a caregiver and an Alzheimer’s person eventually must face is how to deal with the issue of memory loss and medication.

Many elderly people take medication for various needs and it is not uncommon for some to take several different pills at a time.

This can be confusing enough for the average person, especially the elderly, with normal memory issues – but the problem becomes much more complicated when the person is coping with the progressive memory loss of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s people can be quite alert and capable of managing their own medication for a long time – and then one day, it simply isn’t so.

This is where need for medication management makes its appearance.

So what can be done?

Different types of medication organizers, pill dispensers, vibrating reminders, audible alarm systems are all “out there” to help people take their medications on time. The list is long and the choices are many.

The Little Divided Plastic Container
The most basic type of medication reminder is the small plastic box divided up into different compartments, with covers that snap close separately for each day. They are available in 7-day and 28-day sizes and are relatively inexpensive.

Watches and Jewelry
For the more technologically-minded, there are alarm and vibrating watches and other jewelry than can be used by an Alzheimer’s person who is still active and needs the reminder but doesn’t need to let the rest of the world know about it.

Pagers
Similar to this are the pager size medication reminders that can be slipped into a pocket or a purse. They are equipped both with audible and vibration alarms, similar to those used in cell phones. For the person with sensory integration issues, or for whom a watch or bracelet would feel too heavy or annoying, this is a great option.

Software for Palm Pilots and Hand-Held Computers
Even higher up the technology ladder is the medication reminder software that can be loaded on to a palm pilot or other hand-held computer. These also come with calendars, scheduling functions and other options.  For the busy executive or gadget-lover in the initial stages of Alzheimer’s disease, this is a fun choice.

Fully Automatic Dispensers
Yet another step up from these options is the fully automatic dispenser, usually for people in whom the disease has progressed. These act as reminders as well as dispensers, ensuring that the person knows it’s time to take the medication as well as providing the right pills in the right dose. For busy caregivers or Alzheimer’s people who are enter the middle stages of the disease, this is a good choice.

One website that offers a myriad selection of medication management devices is “epill.com”, which offers medication reminder systems for just about anyone, from seniors right down to children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) who need to take pills at school.

The site is comprehensive, with dozens of gadgets and systems to choose from and bright colors to catch the eye -- so many, that it can get a little confusing.

The advantage is the wealth of information available, the ease of clicking on links for just about anything you need to know and an 800 number that one can call if it’s all just too much to look at. There is also a catalog that can be downloaded in PDF format and printed.

Their “Rolls Royce” product is the Med-Time XL automatic pill dispenser, powered by batteries which are supplied by the company along with the item.  It holds a minimum of seven days’ worth of medication, up to a maximum of 28 days, and can dispense medicines up to 28 different times in one day!

The dispenser will release only the pre-programmed pills at the pre-programmed time, which minimizes the risk that the Alzheimer’s person might become confused and choose the wrong day or time, and thus the wrong medication.

As with most medication aids, however, it is still advisable for a caregiver to pre-program the dispenser in order to avoid a mishap.

Taking the right medication at the right time is as important as which medicine the doctor chooses to prescribe. That’s what makes these devices such a phenomenal help to both caregiver and the Alzheimer’s person.

More Information

www.epill.com - Online store offering dozens of options for medication management

Epill's “Patient Help Wizard”  - lists suggestions for systems according to patient's needs

AbleData Voice-output Medication Reminder