Medication adherence technology — automated dispensers and reminders

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family situation is different, and you should consult with appropriate professionals about your specific circumstances.

Your parent takes five medications daily and lives alone. You've organized them perfectly in a pill organizer. But you're worried. What if your parent forgets to take them? What if they take them twice by accident? What if a dose gets skipped? If you could watch them, you would. But you can't be there every day. That gap between what your parent needs and what you can provide is exactly where medication adherence technology steps in.

Technology can't replace human presence or careful medication management. But it can help. It can remind your parent when medication time arrives. It can dispense the correct medications automatically. It can alert you if your parent hasn't taken their medications. It can track whether medications were taken and when. For some families, the right technology solves an unsolvable problem. For others, it's an unnecessary complication. Understanding what's available helps you decide what might help your parent.

How Reminders Work

The simplest reminder technology is a smartphone app. Your parent gets a notification at medication time. Many apps also let you set reminders for yourself or other caregivers. Some apps show a picture of the medication and instructions. Some apps tell your parent how many pills to take and what each one is for. Apps cost little to nothing and require only that your parent has a smartphone.

The limitation of apps is that they're only as good as your parent's attention to them. If your parent ignores notifications, doesn't hear them, or doesn't understand them, the app doesn't help. Your parent has to actively respond to the reminder by taking the medications.

A dedicated reminder device works differently. Devices like MedMinder or PillPack send alerts at medication time. Some include visual reminders like flashing lights. Some include voice reminders. Some connect to your phone so you get a notification if your parent doesn't acknowledge the reminder. These devices are more effective than apps for people who might ignore phone notifications.

Wearable technology like smartwatches can send medication reminders. If your parent wears a smartwatch, medication reminders can go directly to their wrist. This is helpful for people who have their phones but might not see notifications. A vibration on the wrist is harder to ignore than a phone notification.

Automated Medication Dispensers

An automated medication dispenser is a machine that holds your parent's medications and dispenses the correct doses at the correct times. You load the machine with your parent's medications for the week or month. At medication time, the machine sounds an alarm and dispenses the correct medications into a cup. Your parent takes what's dispensed. The machine only releases that dose, so your parent can't accidentally take too much.

These machines solve several problems at once. Your parent can't take the wrong medication because the machine only dispenses what's supposed to be taken. Your parent can't take a medication twice because once it's dispensed, it's gone. Your parent gets a reminder because the machine alarms. Some machines alert you if your parent doesn't take their medications within a certain timeframe.

The catch is that loading the machine requires manual work. Either you fill it or the pharmacy fills it. If the pharmacy fills it, there's usually a charge. The machine itself costs money upfront. Some machines connect to your phone to send alerts. These cost more.

A popular option is the MedMinder Dispenser. It holds up to a month's worth of medications. It alarms at medication time. If your parent doesn't take their medications, it alarms again with increasing urgency. You can monitor remotely through an app. It costs a few hundred dollars upfront but saves the ongoing cost of prepilled medications from the pharmacy.

Another option is PillPack, which is actually a pharmacy service. Your parent gets medications delivered in blister packs organized by date and time. Each blister pack contains exactly what should be taken at that time. Your parent just pops out a blister and takes the medications inside. No guessing about what to take. No manual organization. The downside is that PillPack only works with certain insurance plans and some medications can't be delivered this way.

Remote Monitoring and Alerts

If your parent lives far away or you're concerned about adherence, remote monitoring is valuable. Technology that alerts you when your parent takes medications or fails to take them lets you stay informed without being there.

Some automated dispensers send you notifications if your parent doesn't take their medications. You get an alert and can call to check on them. This solves the problem of not knowing whether your parent is taking care of their health.

Smart pill bottles exist that track when caps are opened. You load your parent's medications into regular bottles, but the caps send data to your phone. When the cap is opened, you get a notification. When it's not opened at the right time, you get an alert. These devices are less precise than automated dispensers because opening a bottle doesn't guarantee the medication was taken, but they're less expensive and simpler to use.

Technology for Memory and Organization

Medication reminder apps with built-in medicine lists help your parent understand what they're taking and why. Some apps include photos of medications. Some include information about side effects. Some have refill reminders. If your parent is struggling to remember what they take or why, these apps provide portable reference information.

Medication tracking apps record when doses are taken. Over time, this creates a history that shows your parent and their doctor whether medications are being taken consistently. If adherence is poor, the data clearly shows this. This objective information is more useful than guessing about whether your parent is taking medications.

Pill organizers with alarms exist. These are simpler than automated dispensers but more functional than passive organizers. When medication time arrives, the organizer beeps and lights flash. Your parent opens it and takes the correct medications. These cost between fifty and two hundred dollars depending on features.

Choosing the Right Technology

The best technology for your parent depends on their specific challenges. If your parent forgets medications, a reminder system works. If your parent gets confused about what to take, an automated dispenser works. If your parent lives alone and you're worried about them, remote monitoring works. Your parent's cognitive ability, their willingness to use technology, and your budget all factor into the decision.

Start by identifying the specific problem you're trying to solve. Is the problem forgetting to take medications? Is it confusion about what medications to take? Is it accidentally taking doses twice? Is it medication spilling out and getting lost? Different problems need different solutions.

Talk to your parent's doctor about what they recommend. Talk to your parent's pharmacist. They know medication adherence challenges and can suggest technology options. Your parent themselves should have input because they're the one using it. Forcing your parent to use technology they don't want rarely works.

Start simple. A phone app reminder costs nothing and might be all your parent needs. If simple doesn't work, escalate to a more sophisticated system. It's easier to add technology than to take it away if your parent hasn't accepted the first level.

When Technology Doesn't Work

Some people refuse to use technology. Some people can't manage technology due to cognitive impairment. Some people have arthritis that makes using devices difficult. Some people live in areas without reliable internet or cell service. For these people, technology isn't the answer.

When technology doesn't work, human systems take over. A home health aide comes daily to help with medications. A family member calls at medication time to remind. A pharmacy delivers prepilled medications. These human systems work better than no system. They might cost money, but they're more reliable than technology a person won't use.

The Real Limitation of Technology

Technology is a tool, not a cure. It can remind, but it can't make your parent take medications. It can dispense, but it can't force your parent to actually ingest the medication. It can alert you, but it can't solve underlying reasons why your parent might not want to take medications. Your parent might be depressed and not care about health. Your parent might have side effects that make them resistant to medications. Your parent might not believe they need the medications. No technology solves these problems.

Technology works best for people who want to take medications but struggle with the logistics of it. Your parent wants to be healthy. They just need help remembering or organizing. Technology helps. Your parent doesn't believe in their medications or refuses to take them? Technology probably won't change that.

Making the Investment

If you decide to invest in technology, involve your parent in the choice. Let them see the device. Have them practice with it. Answer their questions. Sometimes resistance comes from misunderstanding. Once your parent understands how it works and sees that it helps, they often embrace it.

Set realistic expectations. Technology improves adherence but doesn't guarantee perfect adherence. Your parent might still occasionally forget. The device might occasionally malfunction. Technology is one part of a larger system of supporting your parent's health.

Your Role in Supporting Adherence

You can help your parent take medications in ways that have nothing to do with technology. You can organize medications clearly. You can remind your parent personally. You can tie medication taking to a routine. You can teach your parent about their medications so they understand why they matter. You can create a system where your parent can't accidentally take doses twice. You can pick up prescriptions and keep supply steady.

Technology supports these human efforts. It doesn't replace them. The most adherent older adults are those who have human support, clear organization, understanding about their medications, and when appropriate, technology that helps with reminders and tracking.

How To Help Your Elders is an educational resource. We do not provide medical, legal, or financial advice. The information in this article is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation. Decisions about medication adherence technology should be made with your elder and, when appropriate, with their healthcare provider.