Medication and memory problems: practical help for families

For someone with memory problems, a simple question such as “did I take my tablets?” can be hard to answer. A few practical changes make a real difference, for them and for the family.

Use a daily checklist

A list with each medicine and a box to tick once it is taken. A picture of each medicine next to its name helps. A pharmacist can often provide one.

Ask for a medication review

The doctor or pharmacist may be able to reduce the number of daily doses, stop medicines that are no longer needed, and make sure packaging is easy to open and labels are easy to read.

Set reminders

Alarms, a phone app or a smart speaker can prompt each dose. Reminders work best when they arrive at the same moment of a daily routine.

Consider a pill box or blister packs

A pill box with compartments for each day shows at a glance what is due. Some pharmacies can supply medicines in pre-packed blister packs. Keep in mind that pill boxes only suit tablets, not liquids or patches.

Plan for change

As memory problems progress, reminders often work less well, and more support from a carer may be needed. It helps to talk about this early.

If a dose is missed

Follow the leaflet or the pharmacist’s advice, and never give two doses at once to make up for a missed one.

With PillRem, a family member can keep a profile for each person, see what was taken and get a critical alert for the doses that matter most.