A new “smart” pillbox system can help older adults, their families and their caregivers coordinate to make sure they are maintaining a proper medication regimen.
More than 40% of older adults take at least five prescription pills a day, and that figure jumps to 67% when over-the-counter medications are included, according to the AARP.
Although missing medication potentially can be fatal, up to 50% of medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed, and this problem is thought to result in 125,000 deaths annually, one study found.
When one factors in potential cognitive decline or memory issues that some older adults may have, potential tools for alerts or reminders become invaluable. A majority of older adults who are living with dementia take at least six medications, according to UCSF research last year.
The Prompter Connected Pillbox contains built-in sensors that detect whether the box has been opened and the pills have been removed. The tool was launched recently by health tech company Connected Caregiver.
The sensor system appears to set the Prompter pillbox apart from other similar technologies, which have been around in some form for more than a decade.
Other high-tech pillboxes are Bluetooth-connected and send out phone reminders, such as TimeCap’s model, or are designed to deploy multiple alerts, including beeping and flashing lights, such as the MedMinder pillbox.
The Prompter box also includes bells and whistles to nudge the user into action. But in addition to letting the user know if he or she missed a dose, the Prompter pill box also alerts family members and caregivers who are connected via the Connected Caregiver app, the company noted.
