When Do You Need a Pill or Medicine Reminder with Your Home Medical Alert

Posted by smithwill on August 9th, 2012

Any regular home medical alert system consists of a fairly simple and straight-forward setup: there is the usual waterproof panic button that you can wear as a bracelet or a necklace, and there’s the home base unit that is equipped with the advanced technology to enable two-way voice communication. This is often enough: most seniors or individuals with a specific medical condition that makes their daily life at risk of accidents need only the barebones setup without the extra frills.

For typical purposes, the most important aspect of a modern personal emergency response system is still its two-way voice communication. When a senior figures in an accident at home, he or she would often be helpless and in pain and unable to move.  The two-way voice communication feature of the home base unit means that the senior, no matter how helpless, can still speak and communicate with the care specialist at the alert system’s monitoring and response center hand-free. For this purpose, the home base unit is equipped with a powerful microphone and speakers that are designed to sufficiently ensure clear voice transmission even if the person in distress is in the far area of the room.

But of course, the home base unit will be fairly useless without its specific technological complement: the wearable panic button. Now, the panic button represents its own technological evolution: over the years, it has undergone several changes in order to become the compact, waterproof, wireless, and reliable device it currently is. Its efficiency in making instant wireless connection when the wearer presses it is critical in ensuring zero delays during a time-sensitive medical crisis.

Medicine Reminder Service

There are cases when a senior’s need exceeds what a regular alert system can provide. For example, if the senior is prone to forgetting the schedule of the medicine they are supposed to take, or worse, if they tend to mix up the medications, they will need some form of assistance to avoid mistakes. Those who have live-in caregivers or those who still live with their close relatives basically have it easy, as there are people who can personally take care of the senior’s needs. However, those who live alone or independently must rely on certain devices or external services.

Maintaining the right dosage of prescribed medication is critical to the safety and health of the senior. Most elderly people subsist on medications that ensure the proper functioning of their vital organs, such as the heart or kidneys or liver. And sometimes, missing even a single dose or mixing up the medicines can be devastating—it can mean precipitating a cardiac arrest or a stroke.

Some premium providers of medical alert systems offer accessories or add-ons in order to extend the usefulness or the health coverage of their alert systems. Some, like Rescue Alert of California, also offer a pill or medicine reminder feature to complement their existing service. For instance, the company’s Minder service involves the actual participation of a highly trained care specialist from the company’s own response center, who will personally make sure that the senior does not forget to take their medication. Moreover, customers can avail of the Minder service alone and without having to subscribe to a medical alert system.

Of course, there may be more affordable options—there are automatic pill dispensers or programmable medication reminders available on the market that may cost less than the ones offered by your alert provider. While these third party devices can be incorporated in your existing setup, they may later prove too cumbersome for the senior and may be prone to fail.

Not everyone who uses a home medical alert needs a medication or pill reminder. But for those who do, the extra service is not optional—it actually serves a well-rounded critical role in keeping the senior safe and healthy. You can choose to buy a third party medicine reminder or dispenser, but it may make things complicated and might eventually defeat its purpose. As much as possible, take advantage of the medication or pill reminder service that is offered by your existing alert system provider—it will keep things simple and efficient.

Rescue Alert of California is a leading medical alert system provider having specialized in home medical alert system for over 26 years. Their extensive years of experience, engineering, and research have brought about the highest level of senior medical care. Rescue Alert strives to provide information and resources for seniors, for additional information or to learn more about Rescue Alerts wearable panic button product or services, please visit RescueAlertofCa.com.