If you or your loved one has multiple medications to take on a regular basis, a dosette box can make the process easier.
Helping to organise medications by day, week or even month, a dosette box ensures that the right medications are taken.
This can be beneficial for maintaining independence as you get older.
This article will cover how to use a dosette box safely in home care and assisted living settings.
Here’s a summary of what we’ll cover:
- A dosette box, or pill organiser, is a container that stores medications and, in some cases, dispenses them at the assigned time.
- They can help people taking multiple medications on a regular basis to avoid missing doses, which could be detrimental to health.
- When choosing a dosette box, consider your health needs to find a product that works for you and is easy to use.
What is a dosette box?
A dosette box is an easy to use care aide that allows you to organise medication and supplements into compartments.
The compartments can be labelled with different parts of the day such as morning and night, and separate each day from the next.
Dosette boxes come in a variety of sizes, daily, weekly and monthly, that let you organise medication well in advance.
So when it comes to taking medicines your pills are ready to go with minimal fuss.
Are you worried about a loved one?
Who can use a dosette box?
Dosette boxes are readily available to buy and be used by anyone who finds them necessary to organise oral medication.
They may be helpful for people taking multiple medicines or supplements in pill or capsule form.
People with certain conditions that affect memory find dosette boxes useful for remembering to take their medication.
Additionally, for mobility issues in elderly, dosette boxes can make the process of taking medication easier and pain free.
What medication can go in a dosette box?
Not all medicines can go in a dosette box, obviously anything liquid or especially large should be avoided.
If you have large medicines or supplement pills and capsules, you should choose a dosette box that can accommodate this.
Check out our pill dispenser box: reviews of the best article for more info on using a dosette box or pill dispenser.
How to use a dosette box in assisted living settings
A dosette box may support someone to live independently, as they are able to manage and take their medication with confidence.
Not only are they taking the right medication, which helps them function well, they are doing so without constant supervision.
This can provide an opportunity for older people to manage themselves independently, which can boost their self esteem.
Support staff at the facility can be on hand to help with medication when needed, such as organising the week’s supply.
What is the guidance for using a dosette box in assisted living settings?
The CQC, which regulates assisted living facilities as well as other types of care, has some guidance on use of dosette boxes.
When being used by an elderly carer or in a care setting, there are some considerations for helping maximise feelings of independence.
This is to help the person being cared for feel confident and autonomous, while receiving elements of support.
For more information about what is the CQC and what they do, head to our care and advice pages.
Taking medication safely in a care setting
The CQC suggests other reasonable adjustments for maintaining independence with medication, such as:
- reminder charts
- winged bottle caps
- large print labels
- alarms (eg. notifications on mobile phones)
- tablet splitters
Are you worried about a loved one?
How to use a dosette box?
Dosette boxes are designed to make the task of remembering to take medication easier.
As a general rule, you should know which medicines you or your loved one has to take and how to take them.
If you have any confusion or concerns about what they are taking, consult the relevant care and health professionals.
Follow medication guidance
Taking medication can sometimes be complicated, especially when prescribed drugs that may interact or give you certain side effects.
It’s very important to follow instructions given to you by your doctor regarding how and when to take medicines.
For example, there may be a pill you have to take in the morning and a different one at night, or certain drugs on particular days.
With this in mind, you can organise medication and supplements in the order you need to take them to avoid confusion.
Label the compartments
Many dosette boxes use coloured compartments to help distinguish between days of the week or even parts of the day.
However, if your model doesn’t have labels, consider creating labels to indicate when to take or the contents of each compartment.
Set alarms
If you or your loved one struggles to remember medication and often forgets to take it, set up alarms.
This can be done on a mobile phone or dementia clock where alarms can be labelled with notes and information.
Missing doses can have negative side effects and could be damaging for long term conditions or recovery.
So even though it might feel like a bit of an effort, setting up alarms for use with the dosette box can be a huge help.
Refill and reorder
Taking medication regularly means that you have to be on top of re-filling the compartments at the end of every day or week.
Plus, don’t forget about re-ordering the medication you need from your GP or pharmacy.
A loved one or carer can give you as much support as you need with refills and ordering medication.
Or if you’re doing it alone, it may be a good idea to get them to check you have everything you need in the right place.
How to use a dosette box safely
- Don’t include pills that you take only as required
- Know how many pills are supposed to be in each box and keep a list of medications and their instructions
- Organise your medication on a regular basis as part of the routine
- Swallow your pills slowly and carefully with plenty of water
Which dosette box should I use?
Buying a dosette box can be done through your local pharmacy or from an online retailer.
If you have very specific medication needs, your health professional may be able to recommend something that accommodates them.
However if you’re looking for something more general, there are loads of great designs to choose from.
Here are some things to consider when choosing a dosette box for your medications.
Size
Dosette boxes are available with different size compartments, to cater for different types of medications.
If you have a condition that affects mobility in your hands and fingers, you may benefit from something that isn’t fiddly to use.
This can be helpful for those who need arthritis care – for more information on types of arthritis, head to our advice pages.
Layout
However you like to organise your medication, there will be a product that suits your preferences.
Some layouts include different sections for parts of the day, while some just have seven compartments for one week.
Plus, the shape, storage and style preferences can be catered for as some are flat, some tall and with many variations on colour.
Advanced features
Advanced features can include alarms and timed dispensers of medicines which have to be set up electronically.
As well as this, some dosette boxes can be detached into smaller sections which is perfect for travelling with medications.
Depending on your preference and medication needs, some advanced features can overcomplicate the process.
So it’s important to find a product and a routine that works for you and helps you to use your dosette box safely.
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