Most older Americans take at least one prescription medication and many take two, four, or even more daily medications. Rachel Montero of the Union Hospital Help Line service says it?s common for people to become confused with so many pills to take at different times of day.
?With a variety of prescriptions, some to be taken in the morning and others at night, it?s easy to become confused. You might wonder if a medication has been skipped or perhaps taken twice,? Montero said.
An innovative Home Medication Dispenser is now being offered by the UH Help Line service that Montero says takes the guesswork out of taking daily medications.
Rachel Montero from Union Hospital demonstrates the operation
of the Home Medication Dispenser to UH Help Line subscriber
Fran Killian (left) of Dover. The dispenser can be loaded with
enough medication to last from one week to one month.
?The medication dispenser is filled by the client?s caregiver with enough medication for one week up to one month, depending on the variety of medications and how often they?re taken. When the next dose is due, the dispenser makes a beeping noise to alert the subscriber. If the subscriber is deaf the dispenser unit can be adapted to flash a light to signal the time to take the mediation.?
If the medication is not taken from the dispenser within a
pre-set amount of time, and if they are a Union Hospital
Help Line subscriber, the Help Line monitoring station
calls the client?s home to check on the subscriber.
If needed, a caregiver is notified to go to the home.
The Home Medication Dispenser is simple and easy to use. When the next medication dose is due, the dispenser sounds a ?beep? and a light flashes. The subscriber can then remove and take the medication at the proper time.
?Like our Help Line home monitoring service, this new medication dispenser technology will help simplify our subscribers? daily medications and help them feel more confident living at home,? Montero added.
Debbie Albaugh, RN, Director of Home Health says a major benefit of this new technology is the prevention of medication errors.
?These errors are one of the leading causes of hospitalization of the elderly. Helping people to take their medications correctly can lessen hospital admissions and help people feel more secure, Albaugh said?
Montero says the monthly fee for the Home Medication Dispenser is $25 with a $20 set up fee. For more information, contact Rachel Montero at the Help Line office by calling (330) 364-0839.
###
