Blister Packs for those on Medication

Jack1959

Hello All

My mum is 90 years old and has Dementia and is struggling to stay in her own home.  She has great difficulty remembering in to take her medication or in fact if she has taken it, which can lead to her overdosing.  

To prevent overdosing and to help her remember if she'd taken her medication, the GP suggested we get her medication put into blister packs which are neat little packages of her daily medications and have the day marked on them to prevent confusion.  These packs are something that my mum clearly needs.  

For a year now we have been charged for this service.  Even though her prescriptions are free, the GP chemist charges us £15 for the blister packs per month, when they were free when we started this process. It seems a little unfair when mum can't do without these blister packs because of her condition.  Some people have their medication packaged up in this way for convenience, but  for mum, not having her daily medication packaged neatly into days and weeks, is not just an inconvenience to her it is a necessity for her survival.  

Is it possible for me to challenge this at all, have others challenged it?

Devongardener

Can you use daily pill organisers for her various meds?  I have to take several different meds and they are excellent.  There are different types, some with compartments for a.m & p.m. and some for up to a month.

DullGreyGuy

Jack1959 said:

Is it possible for me to challenge this at all, have others challenged it?

Is it not possible for you to repack her medication for her?

If not then repackaging medicine is not an NHS service and so it's a matter of shopping around to find the most cost effective provider to repackage. Alternatively she many be eligible for wider supportive services who can deal with her meds in normal distribution packaging.

Sarahspangles

I don’t think the withdrawal of ‘dosette boxes’ can realistically be challenged, it was a free service offered by some high street pharmacies.  You can still get it from some online pharmacies.  If patients aren’t able to manage their medications then they need more support, not workarounds.

MalMonroe

I remember my late neighbour had her tablets delivered in 'nomad packs' for free a few years ago because she was never too sure which tablet to take when, even though she didn't suffer from dementia. But as Sarahspangles says, above, they are no longer free although some online pharmacies do offer them. Just do a google search.

Also agreeing with Sarahspangles that maybe your mother needs a bit more support, it's very understandable that she wants to stay in her own home but if you were able to see her GP with her, hopefully some support services or a 'care package' could be arranged for her - such as carers going in specifically to help her with her meds. Even if the meds are in sorted out doses in blister packs, there's nothing to stop her taking more or less medication than she should do. And as you say, overdosing can have serious consequences. If she's living on her own with dementia it's not easy for her.

If help was organised for her at home then she wouldn't have to leave it but she'd be safer in it. Some people find that having carers popping in from time to time really cheers them up, too. 

sarah1972

Pmd the team to move to a more appropriate board as it’s not a no spend freebie. X

my grandad has his delivered in daily blister packs from his local pharmacy with no charge, is it a pharmacy policy maybe? 

Good luck, it can’t be easy x 

elsien

I’d agree with the comments about more support. It is easy for someone to get confused over the day of the week and take two days worth together. Especially if people are at home a lot and one day feels very much like the next.
And if she’s struggling there may be other areas of support she could benefit from which might help her to stay at home for longer. 

Murphybear

You don’t have to be elderly or have dementia to forget whether you’ve taken your pills.  I’m 70 with a sharp mind but sometimes forget whether I’ve taken mine.  

maisie_cat

I bought a large pill caddy for my 59 year old husband because he couldn't remember half the time. He refills when his prescription comes and finds it much easier. 

Marmaduke123

I sort mine into a weekly pill organiser with am and pm sections. I still forget a dose very occasionally, but at least I now know if I've forgotten. I don't think mine would be useful for someone with dementia, but I believe you can get automatic ones which will release the appropriate pills at set times. Have a look at the dementia charities websites.

binao

The above post by @Marmaduke123 looks good.

Also may be look into changing chemist. Many will also deliver.

Many local pharmacists are happy to oblige since the advent of online/postal chemists.

Assume you order online etc. You  can also change chemist on line.

Good luck to your "Mum" staying in her own home.