Automatic Pill Dispenser for Elderly with Alarm, 28 Sealed Compartments Machine for Medication, Electronic Timed Automatic Pill Dispenser Machine Organizer Smart Locked FSA/HSA Eligible

I purchased this item over a year ago, and felt compelled to write a review because it has been a lifesaver for my 95 year-old mother-in-law who lives alone in her own home. The dispenser is easy to set up and is very reliable. It enables her to take the proper medication at the correct time every day and is very simple for her to operate. I highly recommend it!

This was exactly what we were looking for:Has three tone alarm with disable optionHas flashing light for reminderEasy to dispense meds (just tip)Programmable for time of day for different doses per dayEasy for patient to useWe are helping care for an elderly patient who lives alone and has seizures. She gets really mixed up with her meds and has overdosed a number of times (because she forgets to record that she already dosed or has a seizure and thinks it's tomorrow). The more she overdoses, the more she gets mixed up.We got this for her and, now (hasn't been very long), she has made no mistakes. She has a schedule and, right on time, the red light flashes and she tips the dispenser and out comes her dose for that time. She can't really understand a calendar half the time but she understands to look for the red light and tip the dispenser to get her dose. Optimally, she should not be living alone and we are trying to change that but, in the interim, this is an exceptionally good solution that has worked.Minor concerns:This device works really well but it would be hard to imagine that it is extremely rugged. (I could be wrong--it appears to be well made but it is plastic, has plastic gears, uses batteries, and could be dropped.) For that reason, we let her keep an extra dose to only be used if she calls us first. So far, no failures though. We keep in close contact just to be sure.The unit locks. However, a drug abuser (our patient is not) could easily stomp on this and get the meds out (or simply walk away with it). But, you would at least know that it happened.If the unit tries to dispense while you are filling the tray, the display might show "Err". I couldn't find a way to fix this in the instructions so I called the company. A support person answered within 1 or 2 minutes. The support person seemed to have trouble understanding my concern but eventually told me to take the batteries out and put them back again. I was concerned that the unit would lose the time and/or the schedule or other parameters. I did the procedure quickly and the unit was fine like nothing happened. Not sure what would happen if I wasn't quick.The setup really requires the instructions and isn't always intuitive. Closely following the instructions and using some experimentation works fine though. I've seen worse and most devices like this require some initial effort. Keep the instructions and the key!When the dispensing tray presents the pills, anyone can take them. In some settings, that might be an issue. Also, at that time, there is no cover and the pills are exposed. For our situation, all that's a good thing.This is not a wall powered device with battery backup but simply a battery powered unit. Watch the battery life. (We considered a wall powered unit but liked the listed features of this one better.)Not very portable: Beeps if left upside down--probably for good reason. Also, the current dose could fall out. Again, that's a good design for our situation but it's not something to stick in a bag for vacation.We wish that the LCD clock displayed all the time. It times out to save battery life.Overall grade so far: A++ . This device might ultimately get the doses right and resolve some medical issues. (I want one if I ever have to have critical meds.)

My 90-year-old mother takes several meds every morning but was having trouble remembering to take them. When she entered assisted living earlier this year, the place wanted to put her on a med program that would add $40 a day to the cost. So this device is saving us $40 a day! It works like a charm. Once a month, I refill it with her meds and change the batteries, and the device does the rest. She hasn't missed a dose since we started using it, and the staff at the assisted living facility has recommended it to other residents. My only quibbles: the locking mechanism is a little tricky to get right and the paper ring with the days-of-the-week does not come with adhesive backing. Important caveats: the entire dispenser needs to be lifted and tilted to get the meds, so the user will need some hand/arm strength and coordination to get their pills. (But they won't need finger strength or dexterity since they don't need to open a flap to get the pills.) Also, you'll need to live close enough to the user to refill the dispenser as needed--monthly or more frequently depending on how many doses the user needs every day.

This was exactly what we were looking for:Has an alarm and flashing light when it's time for pills.Somewhat easy for patient to use; to dispense the meds just tip the device into the hand.This was for an elderly patient who lives alone and gets mixed up on the days of the week. Sometimes she would not take her pills and other days she would take them and the next days also. Now- right on time, the red light flashes and she tips the dispenser and out comes her dose for that day. She can't really understand a calendar half the time so this works. She lives in a safe environment and has help from her family. Short of daily visits to hand her the pills-this is an exceptionally good solution that has mostly worked.The unit locks and we opted for the solid white cover not the clear one -to prevent confusion.Minor concerns:This device works well but not very rugged. I think it could be damaged if dropped.The setup really requires the instructions and isn't always intuitive. We watched the videos several times to set it up. Keep the instructions and the key!This is not a wall powered device with battery backup but simply a battery powered unit.Two major drawbacks are that oval pills get stuck in the tray even when flipped over. The older person didn't see that some pills were left in the tray because the pills are white and the tray compartments are white. I find several missed pills every month when I unlock and refill the dispenser. A dark colored tray with slightly bigger slots would solve that issue.UPDATE-We have discontinued this dispenser. We spray painted a disk dark and that helped her see the pills but my mother was shaking the dispenser upside down on her palm so much that the tray was off center and dispensing 2 days worth of pills. Also, the tiny pills were not staying in their daily compartments.