Assisting with medication
Telecare systems are flexible and trained health and social care professionals match people with the services which they need and which will help to improve their lives.
An elderly lady in her mid 90s was able to leave hospital and go to her home again when a care phone and a telecare pill dispenser were installed in her home.
While making their assessment in hospital, the care team were concerned that the lady’s failing sight was likely to cause problems when she needed to take her medication. While she was still in hospital a pharmacist agreed to test a pill dispenser with an alarm which would be triggered if the medication was missed.
A pill dispenser was loaded with tablets for the lady to take – this was tested in hospital when there were nurses on hand to help if medication was missed. The lady, who longed to go home again, coped very well and on discharge from hospital a pill dispenser with a telecare base unit was installed in her house.
By linking the pill dispenser to a base unit and to a monitoring centre an alarm will sound at the same time in the lady’s house and at the monitoring centre if medication is missed. If this happens the monitoring centre contacts a relative or a neighbour who holds a key to pay a visit and to prompt her to take the tablets.
This lady is very happy now in her home and she is coping well with her telecare pill dispenser.