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Is there an App/device to track if dad took meds?
I am brand new to all of this and the carer for my dad with LBD. I live a solid hour away from him and for now that's ok. He's early stages but still able to care for himself.
Sometimes though he forgets to feed his dog. I bought him an auto feeder and programmed it to automatically feed the dog but he gave it about 2 hours before throwing it away.
Does anyone know of a device that can send him audible alerts to take his meds, feed the dog etc? I saw one that lists all of his tasks and he can check them off as he does it. That's perfect, but I'm wondering if theres something out there where I'd be able to see if he didn't check off an item and then I could call him and say, "hey, feed Cooper", or "take your evening meds" etc.
Something that for now would allow me to monitor him until such time as a live-in care giver is needed.
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The question that I asked for my mother was how important is it that her meds are taken regularly? It may be helpful to hire a geriatric case manager or a caregiver that can check in person to reinforce that they are taking their meds and feeding their dog to start. I found that the in person touch/experience is much more impactful and gives you peace of mind.
I can only speak from experience. My husband has LBD & we are about 3 years post-diagnosis (but as is often the case, symptoms started many years earlier).
Everyone is different but his attention span has continued to deteriorate to the point where I have to physically put meds in his hand, and then prompt him multiple times to put them in his mouth. Then I have to prompt him to swallow - repeatedly.
LBD functioning can fluctuate from day to day. And it’s unpredictable. If your loved one is still at the stage where they can follow instructions you could set up a week’s worth of meds in individual tiny paper cups with each dose separated. Cover each with plastic wrap & write date & time to take on each - “Saturday 8am” as example. Call at the appropriate time, have him locate the cup for that date & time. And then talk him thru swallowing, etc.
You can do the same with the dog food. Get multiple ziplock bags, portion out the dog food. Then write day of week on each. Call & talk him through filling the dog bowl.
It’s very difficult to ascertain the length of the person’s attention span as they can also be easily distracted & quickly lose focus.
LBD is very different from other types of dementias. For one thing it’s not a steady downward progression. It can fluctuate rapidly within a short period of time. When the person suddenly is functioning at well above baseline it easy to slip into thinking that they are improving. But the spike in functioning has unpredictable duration. Never trust “Lewy”. Be prepared to cope with a much lower level of functioning & adjust as needed to help your loved one maintain dignity & some sense of independence while keeping them safe.
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3 ReactionsHi @jen2024, there are smart medicine dispensers. They can alert your dad when it's time to take his medication. It then verifies his identity through facial recognition or a PIN before dispensing the medication
Through an app on your phone you can see when he took his medication and if he missed a dose. Some devices also have built in capability for two-way video calls, allowing check-ins as needed - maybe for feeding the dog.
But devices still rely on the person using them. LIke @coping123 said, I'd be concerned if someone living with dementia would get frustrated with the technology or declining cognitive ability might make it less useful over time. Every person with LBD is different however, and this may be a good option for you dad. Just Google "smart medication dispensers" to learn more and see the options on the market.
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2 ReactionsHi @jen2024, My wife recently died from Dementia. I was her primary caregiver for 10 years. I, like you, initially had no understanding of the disease. What gave me comfort - to learn all I could about how the disease was affecting my wife, and how I might respond appropriately as she continued to lose abilities. For me being around people and organizations that understood the disease gave me the resolve and resources to Carry my wife to the end. (Caregiver Support Groups were huge) You may find the links below helpful.+ From your post, I sense your dad has an amazing daughter.
Teepa Snow (She knows more about Alz that most)
Alzheimers Association (Info / Caregiver Support groups, etc)
https://www.alz.org
Council on Aging (Your area) May have support groups
https://www.councilonaging.com
Books that may be helpful. I am not promoting Amz. It just made it easier for me.
Still Alice - book
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Alice-Lisa-Genova/dp/1439102813/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3F3IOMOHR1BND&keywords=still+alice+book&qid=1704307233&sprefix=still+alice%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1
Ambiguous Loss - book
https://www.amazon.com/Ambiguous-Loss-Learning-Unresolved-Grief/dp/0674003810/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3HMSBLXJMH4AH&keywords=ambiguous+loss+book&qid=1704307339&sprefix=ambig%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1
Learning to Speak Alzheimer’s - book
https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Speak-Alzheimers-Groundbreaking-Approach/dp/0618485171/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2CYDQDNABJXBQ&keywords=learning+to+speak+alzheimer%27s&qid=1704307421&sprefix=learning+to+spea%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1
The best...
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2 ReactionsHere’s the “love” click? Here’s “like” or “helpful” or “hug”, but where’s the “love” one? Shoot, “love” equals like+hug…
Thanks of what you wrote & how can halp of a close family (husband, wife, mom, dad, and on ).
Thx
,Greg D.