Medication Compliance: Choosing a High-Tech Pill Organizer

​By David Olson 

Pixabay, Public Domain

For elderly individuals who take medications, one of the first signs that they need assistance with daily living is not taking their medications on schedule, or taking certain medications in the wrong amount, either of which could potentially lead to serious health problems.
 
When this situation occurs, it is important for a family member or a professional caregiver to provide a solution for weekly medication compliance, such as a pill organizer. Here are four tips for selecting a weekly, high-tech medication organizer for your loved one or patient.

1. Consider a Pill Organizer with Locked Unit

A locking pill organizer keeps its pill compartments locked, except the compartment with pills that the individual should take immediately. Some pill organizers identify the correct compartment with a flashing light to ensure that the patient knows exactly which pill unit to access. After the pills are removed from the compartment and the lid is closed, the light stops flashing.
 
This feature is helpful for seniors who have memory problems and may not remember which pill compartment to open. It is also helpful for hearing-impaired seniors who would have trouble hearing an audible alert that indicates it is time to take meds. In addition, a locking organizer is an ideal solution for preventing underdosing and overdosing that could lead to hospital care.  

2. Consider a Pill Organizer with Live Assistance

Pill organizers are also available in models that connect seniors with live assistance that helps them maintain medication compliance. These pill organizers typically have a large, prominent button that the individual can press to receive live assistance from a professional. After pressing the button, the person can speak to the assistant directly through speakers that are installed in the organizer.
 
This feature is helpful for seniors who may forget exactly how to use the organizer or are confused about their dosing regimen and the medications it involves. The live assistance feature is also helpful for times when a caregiver is not present to offer instructions on how and when medications should be dosed. Most live assistance pill organizers offer 24/7 assistance, supporting medication compliance around the clock. 

3. Consider a Pill Organizer that Generates Report

When the elderly patient lives at home or in a senior community and isn’t attended by a caregiver at all times, choosing a pill organizer that offers caregivers web-based reports about the patient’s medication use can significantly increase quality of care. In doing so, it can help the patient maintain their independence instead of entering a nursing care facility.
 
Some pill organizers that offer web-based reports also allow caregivers to program the operation of the organizers via the Internet. The patient’s caregiver does not need Internet access or a telephone line to facilitate the programming. All they need is electricity in their residence and cellular coverage.     

4. Consider a Pill Organizer that has Alert Pendants

Some high-tech pill organizers come with waterproof alert pendants that patients can wear on their wrist and/or around their neck. In addition to pushing the button on the pill organizer to receive live assistance, the patient can press the button on an alert pendant to receive live help.
 
Pendant alerts can be especially helpful for seniors who have mobility problems. For example, if the patient experiences a fall as he or she moves to access the pill organizer, with the press of the button on the pendant, the person can tell a live attendant about the situation and receive swift assistance.      

Conclusion

When your elderly loved one or patient uses a high-tech pill organizer with the features above, it can improve their quality of life by helping them take medications in compliance with their prescriber’s orders. It can also keep caregivers well-informed about the patient’s medicine usage, allowing them to make crucial health care decisions for the patient in real-time. 
 
If you care for an elderly individual who needs assistance with medication compliance, start shopping today for a weekly pill organizer that offers the features they need to take prescriptions at the proper time and in the right amounts. In addition to helping patients take meds compliantly, a high-tech pill organizer can enhance your ability to offer thorough care.

Author Bio

David Olson is a writer and content strategist. Aside from his content creation for B2B companies, he writes about the latest developments in science and technology.