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Multi-Alarm Pill Box
Caregiving can be a tough job, but you don’t have to do it without help. Sometimes, your best helpers don’t even need to be human. Here are a few useful gadgets to make your caregiving more efficient and keep you stress-free.
Multi-Alarm Pillboxes: Invest in an electronic pillbox with an alarm function. These organize pills and allow multiple alarms to be set reminding loved ones to take their medications. You can also sign up for additional online reminder services that will send text messages and emails with medication reminders. The convenience of electronic pillboxes keeps you from worrying about medication schedules and allows seniors more independence.
Personal Emergency Response System (PERS): These systems are small, convenient, and provide you with the peace of mind that your loved one can get immediate help in case of an emergency. PERS are three-part systems: a small radio transmitter that can be worn around a neck or wrist, or on a belt, a console connected to your telephone, and an emergency response center to monitor calls. In an emergency, your loved one can press a button on their transmitter, automatically calling the emergency contacts programmed into the console. Transmitters can still function even when outside the home, and emergency response centers can dispatch paramedics if needed.
Radio tracking devices/Webcams: If you can’t always be there to look after a senior with Alzheimer’s or dementia, consider using a radio tracking device or installing a webcam. Webcams can easily be set up on a computer, allowing you to check-in with your loved one and video chat throughout the day. Radio tracking devices are small devices that can be worn as a necklace or bracelet, much like PERS, and use GPS technology to monitor where your loved one wanders. They can even notify authorities if a senior wanders too far. These simple technologies let you supervise a loved one while still maintaining your own schedule.