Case Studies on Medication Management

Remembering to take the right pills at the right time can make the difference between someone being able to live independently in their own home, or not.

Pivotell, the specialist automated pill dispenser for complex medication regimes, was extensively trialled in a project in the East and West Midlands, which produced very positive results, including:

• fewer home visits to remind users to take their medication
• fewer hospital admissions because of over- or under-medicating
• clients feeling more confident, enjoying better quality of life.

On this page are four case studies describing how individual clients have benefited.
 

Medication Management Case Study – Mr & Mrs K, Wolverhampton

Mr and Mrs K are an elderly married couple who live together in a privately owned house and prior to recent medical problems both were very independent and required no assistance from formal services.

In December 2010, Mr K had a stroke resulting in memory problems and was discharged home with the support of a re-ablement service who were visiting 4 times daily to assist with meals and prompt medication. He was keen to regain his independence and manage his medication independently.

After a few weeks, visits were reduced to twice daily but Mr K was regularly forgetting to take his medication.

In April 2010, Mrs K was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depression, and prescribed medication. She admits she was double dosing at times as she could not remember if she had taken her medication.

Family was concerned and consequently arranged for private carers to visit and prompt them both with medication. Both were not keen to have carers coming into the house, and wanted to regain independence around medication compliance.

Mr and Mrs K were referred by a social worker for a pill dispenser and were visited in April 2012 with their son present. Mr K was assessed first and deemed a suitable candidate for the pill dispenser trial. Mrs K was assessed a few weeks later, she was keen to try the pill dispenser as she was familiar with her husband’s and felt it would be beneficial for her. Mrs K was also recommended for the trial; a tipper was required as Mrs K had difficulty handling the dispenser and containing the medication in her hand.

Both have now had the dispenser for several months and carers no longer visit to prompt with medication. The devices are clearly labelled, have different alarm alerts and are kept in separate places so they do not get mixed up.

The dispenser works very well for them and Mrs K advised it has stopped her making dangerous mistakes with her medication. Both are very happy with the dispenser and relieved that they no longer have to rely on others to prompt them with their medication.
 

Case Study – Mrs C, Worcestershire

Mrs C was admitted to hospital with breathing problems which appeared to be as a result of her forgetting to take her medication. She was provided with a Pivotell but declined any other support.

Mrs C’s daughter says the Pivotell is ‘brilliant’ and a ‘life saver’. She said it has very much helped as her mother requires steroids to help her eczema. As she was taking these regularly the eczema has got much better and the dosage is being decreased slowly. She also said that she showed her mother’s GP who was impressed with the device.
 

Case Study – Mr F, Worcestershire

Mr F was admitted to hospital with a general health problem. When he was discharged he had so much medication that he did not know what to take, and was taken back into hospital a day later with an accidental overdose. He spent a long time in hospital and initially did not want to leave. He moved into sheltered accommodate and was provided with a Pivotell and orientation clock.

Mr F states that the Pivotell is going well for him. He says he takes his medication when the box tells him to when it alarms. He has had no problems with it at all. Spoke to his advocate to see how he thinks things are going with the clock and Pivotell. He advised that it is all working very well. He said that Mr F ‘looks ten years younger’ as his medication is now being taken regularly and helping him health-wise. He said that Mr F is on minimum support from his supported housing accommodation as he has managed to become largely independent again due to his, now correct, medication management. The advocate said he ‘could not speak any more highly of the service provided’.
 

Case Study – Mr J, Worcestershire

Mr J suffered a brain haemorrhage last year which also caused a stroke. The stroke led to left sided weakness. He is an insulin dependent diabetic, has asthma and thyroid problems.

Mrs J (his wife) said that both she and her husband think the Pivotell is ‘brilliant, a godsend’. There have been no problems. She thinks it is “amazing and I don’t know how we managed without it before”. She said it has taken the pressure off her as she doesn’t need to prompt him with his tablets. She does however still need to prompt with insulin at times.

 

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Further reading and resources

You can visit Pivotell’s showcase page by clicking here.

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