Nurse Focus is here to help any front-line care worker. This also goes for anyone that has found themselves in the stressful and time-consuming position of caring for a loved one.
While I offer my support to you from a heartfelt perspective, more practically, I really want to provide content that might make things easier for you as a caregiver, day-to-day.
Knowing what tools you need is definitely a step towards that.
One such item is the automatic pill dispenser. The responsibility involved when ensuring a patient receives the correct pills, on time and in the right quantity can be incredibly stressful.
A good pill dispenser can actually alleviate a lot of this.
While I spent some time testing and evaluating a number of pill dispensers in a review here, today, I just want to go through some of the benefits of using one.
If you are currently managing your loved one’s medication, this could really help a lot.
Benefits of using an automatic pill dispenser
1. The right pills at the right time
First and foremost, automatic pill dispensers will dispense the correct pill at the right time.
As long as you ensure that the dispenser is properly loaded, the loved one will be able to receive what they have been prescribed at the time they are meant to take it.
Modern dispensers also have programable alerts and light indicators (for the hard of hearing) so that patients are made aware of when pills need to be taken.
This takes the biggest stress away from the caregiver, while also meaning you do not have to be around 24/7 to manage the medicine.
2. Receive Alerts if Medication is Missed
If you are not present during pill consumption time, you don’t need to worry about not knowing whether the pills have been taken.
This is especially relevant where your loved one might be unreliable, or even untruthful about their consumption.
With a modern automatic pill dispenser, alerts can be sent via text, email, or connected phone system to the caregiver.
You will be informed remotely when pills have been missed (or taken) and can react accordingly.
3. Predetermined Doses
Another benefit is the predetermined doses. Whatever has been advised can be set into the dispenser.
This gives you direct control over the dosages and whether you are present or otherwise, that’s what the patient will receive at the allocated time.
This also means that your loved one does not need to concern themselves with their daily dosage or try to keep track of what they have had and when.
4. Keeps Children and Pets away from medication
Another benefit of automated pill dispensers is that the enclosed medication cannot be reached by young children and pets.
Although normal medication tubes and containers have safety caps, it only takes a knock to have those containers break and the tablets exposed.
A pill dispenser is more robust and difficult to enter.
5. Independence for the patient
The automatic pill dispenser really benefits the patient too.
If they struggle physically, there is now no need to ask for help opening pill bottles, the dispenser will make the pills easy for your loved one to retrieve.
Also, related to the point above, they do not have to think about dosages and times, freeing up their time to go about their day.
Finally, you do not need to be there all the time to help administer pills. The patient has independence over their lives in this regard.
6. More time for you
Caring for a loved one takes up a lot of time. By having the medication managed via an automatic pill dispenser, you will have just that little more time for other tasks.
Whether that’s a breather for you or more time to sit and talk with your loved one, the time saved by having the medication administered without you needing to oversee it on a dosage basis will be much appreciated.
7. Delays the need for dedicated care home
In-home care and assisted living facilities do not come cheap.
If your loved one is mobile and is capable of living independently (and wants to of course), the automatic pill dispenser can help make that happen for longer.
Not only is money saved, but your loved one’s independence is also maintained.
8. Peace of Mind for you
It goes without saying that all the above points lead to what is ultimately one of the biggest benefits for you; peace of mind
As the primary caregiver, you rest easier knowing that your loved one has a well-managed medication routine.
With the automatic alerts, mobile apps, and other ways that you can be notified whether pills have or have not been taken, you will also know that if any issues do arise, you will be informed.
