Remembering medication

[Raeray]

My lovely Nan is now suffering from dementia with the associated memory problems and confusion at the grand age she is.

She is having trouble with her medications - we tried a pill box with days of week and now blister packs from chemist, but she's getting confused with days and times and taking more than one days medications in a day or different doses from different days or sometimes none at all....

Has anyone tried or know about medication reminder alarms or similar and could recommend some? Or has anyone got any bright ideas of what might help?

Many thanks in advance

[stayathomegardener]

Hi, we got a special large clock showing the time, day and date including a morning and evening symbol from a dementia association.
We have now progressed to a locked medicine cabinet on the wall and the visiting carers dispense from this.

[Raeray]

Ah that's a great idea, I will look that up now thank you.

[SantasLittleMonkeyButler]

As a Community Carer, I would advise a medication safe (in some cases supplied by Social Services) and a 15 minute care call twice a day to give your Nan her medication (and make her a cup of tea).

Whether your Nan would need to pay privately for this would depend upon her financial circumstances.

[Needmoresleep]

Does your nan get Attendance Allowance? If not, its worth applying so you can use the money for carer to come in and prompt.

(Do get someone like Citizens Advice Bureau or the local branch of Age UK to read through the applicant first. Success depends on getting the wording right. Having AA can be used to support a claim for Council tax exemption.)