Living alone may not be possible for the patient with Alzheimer’s or Dementia memory-loss who take medication

For sufferers of Alzheimer’s or Dementia memory-loss, medication is not a top priority. They are not neglectful of their health, but simply unable to remember when they last took medication. Eventually, they may forget they need medication at all.

Before my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s she lived alone and took several medications daily. One medication was for high blood pressure, and while sitting at her kitchen table one afternoon I noticed the bottle was empty. I picked it up and rolled it around to check the date as I asked Mom if she’d like me to have it refilled before I headed home.

Clearly marked as containing a one-month supply, Mom’s blood pressure medicine hadn’t been refilled in over 3 months.  I was appalled, but Mom appeared unconcerned while she asserted that she’d taken one of those pills that very morning. Confused, I couldn’t believe Mom would lie about taking a pill. I had the bottle refilled before I went home and purchased one of those pill management, plastic cases so that I could monitor her medications from that day forward.

Later I learned that someone with memory-loss can not remember if they’ve taken a pill or not.  They may lie to save embarrassment or quiet suspicions that they can no longer live alone.  Due to poor judgment, they have no concept of the damage that could occur to their health by skipping medication.

There are multiple reasons why it’s not a good idea for a person with memory-loss to live alone while taking medication

• They may skip a dose because they can’t remember if they’ve already taken a pill
• They may take multiple doses (over-dose) because they don’t remember if they’ve already taken a pill
• They may have more than one medication to take each day (compounding the problems)
• They may need to take one medication several times a day–They simply Can Not do it!

I tried everything I could think of to help Mom take medication in a sensible manner while she lived alone. Since I visited her almost every other day, it would appear to be a simple task. But some days the appropriate slot in her pill case would be empty, some days 3 slots would be empty, and one day she had removed all the pills and put them back into their respective bottles.

Despite the fact that I phoned Mom every morning, specifically to remind her about taking her medication– Some days she would take a pill and some days she would not. She simply could not remember. Shortly after this struggle with medication– Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and came to live with me.

We often fear that we’ll be seen as meddling into our parent’s affairs by checking their medications, asking questions about their habits. Yet, if you have a parent or relative with memory-loss you must learn about their medications and if they’re taking them appropriately:

• Are they taking their medicine/the appropriate dosage at the appropriate time
• Are all their prescriptions current and filled/Perhaps you can offer to help with keeping them current

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Be aware of your loved ones Stage of Alzheimer’s and amount of Memory-Loss, most medication-taking aids will not work for advanced stage Alzheimer’s or Dementia

MedCenter Talking Alarm Clock The “Take Your Pills” Talking Alarm Clock alerts users when it’s time to take their medication with a friendly female voice up to 4 times daily. Features: \u001A Talking Alarm alerts users when it’s time to take their medication \u001A Alarm sounds periodically until special ‘alarm acknowledged’ button is pressed \u001A Loud and Extra Loud sound settings ensure the alarm is heard \u001A Clear, Large-Type Display makes viewing the date, day and time easy \u001A Up to 4 Daily Alarms (Morning, Afternoon, Evening, Night) \u001A Preset with Default Alarm Times (morning: 7:00 a.m., afternoon: 1:00 p.m., evening: 6:00 p.m., night: 10:30 p.m.) The default alarm times can be changed to any specific time that works best for your current needs. \u001A Backlit display for convenient night time viewing – (MORE INFORMATION)

• Did I take those morning pills? Double dosing on medication is a problem for people with memory issues or a complicated medication routine. This lockable medication dispenser will prevent medication errors like overdosing. It also serves as a reminder.
• Stores up to 28 days of medication if dispensed once a day or a week\u001As worth if dispensed 4 times a day. Set 1 to 4 daily alarms to match your medication regimen and let the MedReady do the rest.
• The pill dispenser alarms set easily, just like an alarm clock. The only way to turn the alarm off is to open the door to the medication compartment. The standard alarm rings continuously until the door is opened, but this alarm can be limited to 30, 45, 60 or 250 minutes.
• MedReady is tamper-resistant. Instead of employing a latch, the system utilizes a real lock and key, and the edges are secure. This deters “fiddling” with the medications by people with Alzheimer’s or other memory issues. (Please Note: The MedReady is not the answer for restriction of addictive drugs. If an addicted person wants access to the drugs, they may be able to break into the MedReady.)( (MORE INFORMATION)