The main reason medication management becomes a problem in dementia is the deterioration of memory and sense of time. It is a common risk that people simply forget to take their medication or, even more dangerously, no longer know whether they have already taken their dose. The latter can lead to taking a double dose, risking an overdose. In addition, the distinction between day and night becomes blurred due to the loss of track of the day and time, making it confusing to plan a ‘morning dose’ versus an ‘evening dose’.
In addition to memory problems, the complexity of the task and a lack of insight into the disease also play a role. Many older people struggle with polypharmacy, where taking various pills in the right order and at the right time becomes too complex a task. This is exacerbated by apraxia, the difficulty in performing everyday tasks, which can make even opening a medicine strip or taking a tablet out of a box too difficult. Finally, a lack of insight into the disease, especially in the early stages, often leads to a refusal to take medication because its necessity is not understood. This can be exacerbated by suspicion or fear, whereby the person fears that the medication is intended to harm them.
With the Maziance clock, the required medication times can be entered into the calendar. It also offers the option of taking the medication under the supervision of a family member during a video call.
