Let's return to the question of the impact of technology.  In particular, to the impact on a key issue facing seniors and caregivers, medication management.  We've touched on the fundamentals - preparing and communicating the medication list with simple computer tools.  What we haven't spent much time on is the day to day management of medications.

Technology can help.  For example, one of the tools My Health Care Manager makes available to seniors and their families is a weekly medication schedule.Weekly Schedule Example  This schedule provides a map of the all medications with the day and time and dosages they are to be taken over the course of the week.  This schedule can also provide a variety of additional information such as sliding insulin scales or even life style guidance for exercise or other activities.  In many cases our clients will actually record daily health monitoring results on the form (like blood sugars, blood pressures, and so on).  This is a great way to help aging parents and their care givers stay on top of the weekly regimen.  

There are some limits.  We have found that people dealing with Dementia (Alzheimer's disease or other forms) need the assistance of a caregiver to use a tool like this.  Often they will also need reminders through the course of the day to prompt taking their medications.  Technology can help here, as well.  There are a number of medication reminder systems emerging in the market.