According to a 2017 study, adults are late to take their medication 80-85% of the time. They forget altogether to take their medication approximately 45% of the time. 

Medication app trackers claim to help people take their medication as scheduled. They seem like an excellent solution for a pervasive, growing problem.

However, what people expect from these mobile tools doesn’t always reflect reality. 

We’ll break down the expectations vs. reality to show what you get from a medication app tracker and how you can help you or your loved one take medications consistently.

What do people expect from a medication app tracker?

People download medication app trackers onto their loved one’s phones and tablets because they believe these tools will help them take their medications as prescribed, regularly, and at the right time of day. They trust that the app will help their relative comply with a medication routine and expect the app to provide peace of mind.

What actually happens with medication app trackers?

The reality doesn’t reflect these common expectations, though. 

While the apps flash, beep, and sound alerts, seniors may not always connect the signals with the act of taking their medications and end up ignoring them.

In addition to “alerting” the senior that it’s time to take their medication, these app trackers are supposed to let loved ones in the senior’s CareCircle know when they take their medicine. 

This feature provides a false sense of security because you have no way of knowing if the alert has simply been ignored.

It can be stressful wondering if your relative will heed the notifications and take their medication.

What should you do instead?

Advances in lifestyle medicine and digital therapies allow us to think differently about medication compliance and devise more effective solutions. 

While medication app trackers can, in some situations, be a suitable tool for medication management, they should only be part of a larger care strategy focusing on routines. 

This approach ensures that taking medications becomes a habit of daily life, like eating meals and bathing. For example, your loved one could incorporate morning medication into their breakfast routine.

Telecare providers can help you develop a holistic approach to health and wellness for your aging family member. Consult a reputable Telecare provider like Routinify who can customize a tech-enabled care plan to increase medication compliance and meet your relative’s physical, emotional, and social needs.

What to do now: talk to Telecare providers.

Telecare providers differ dramatically in the services they offer, so make sure you choose one that best serves the needs of your senior relative and their CareCircle. 

The best Telecare providers consider the total wellbeing of their clients and their CareCircle. They take a holistic approach to health and wellness rather than focusing on set areas such as fall detection. Make sure that the Telecare provider you’re considering covers all aspects of health.

You don’t need to wonder if your family member will receive holistic care when you speak to Routinify. Routinify prides itself on providing customized, complete care for clients and their CareCircle. 

Their customer care team takes time to get to know your personal story, goals for care, and your relative’s routine and health status. They use this information to develop an individual care plan to help your loved one stay well and independent and give you greater peace of mind. 

Help with medication and more.

Medication app trackers sound like a great idea, but they can be ineffective for many seniors in reality. Instead, consider Telecare providers who use technology more interactively and effectively. 

While providers like Routinify can help your loved ones take their medication regularly, medication compliance is just part of their holistic wellness services.

Get to know more about Routinify and its Telecare service WellAssist through the Routinify website. Sign up for a free webinar to learn more about how WellAssist can collect real-time data about medication compliance and more to help your loved one stay well and independent.