Automatic Pill Dispenser Too Expensive? Rent It From a Hospital
If your elderly parent keeps forgetting to take medications, an automatic pill dispenser might help. But that kind of device can be expensive—up to almost $900, according to an article on the website for USA Today. So some hospitals and home health-care agencies are offering a more affordable option in an effort to keep elderly people out of the hospital: They’re renting these and other devices.
The article profiles one such machine, the Philips Medication Dispenser. It announces when it’s medication time and dispenses preloaded pills in plastic cups.
In practice it may seem to be little more than a medication alarm clock. But it is one in a long line of devices aimed to keep seniors living independently and away from expensive hospital stays. Among other devices are machines that can transmit patients’ vital signs from their homes to doctors’ offices.
Some experts believe not taking medication may cause 120,000 deaths a year in the United States, according to the article.
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Leigh Ann Otte is a freelance writer who specializes in health and aging issues. She covers finding and paying for senior care for OurParents. If you have any questions about this post or need help finding senior-care options for a loved one, call 1-866-483-4896 to speak with a care advisor in your area.
