My mom with dementia struggles to remember her meds. I heard apps like Mango Health can send reminders to the Apple Watch.
Which apps have you used for medication reminders, and how easy are they to set up for someone who’s not tech-savvy? Any tips for making it simple for her? #MedicationReminders #CaregiverSupport
[Edited by Moderator]
Apple Watch Series 10
I prefer the very flexible iPhone "Alarmed" app, from Yoctoville. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alarmed-reminders-timers/id371886784 I use it for about 95% of my alarms, reminders, timers, calendar events, etc... Daily alarms, such as "Lunch Time", wake up alarms, medication reminders, birthdays, anniversaries, licence renewal, state car inspection reminders, get up extra early because it is trash/recycling day, change HVAC air filters, appointments, time to leave for the airport, etc...
How I use it for my medications is described at the end. The basic features are free to use, but they are very useful. There is a one-time $5 U.S. in-app purchase to enable additional features (I think it is worth it). On the iPhone I can associate different sounds to different alarm events, so I can tell from the sound what the event is, or I can give it a priority by making it a soft and pleasant sound, or a harsh loud annoying sound. Alarmed sounds on my Apple Watch (standard Apple Watch sound only) and lets me dismiss or snooze the event. However, the Apple Watch does not allow unique sounds, but as I can just raise my wrist to see what the alarm was, I am willing to accept that limitation. You can create your own preset timers, and they can have their own unique alarm sounds. I have 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 minute, 1hr timers already setup. I can add more if needed. You can have geolocation alarms, so that when you are approaching a given location, you can get an alarm to pickup milk. Part of the in-app purchase are additional unique sounds, Nag-Me, and DayMinder. Nag-Me allows you to repeat the alarm every few minutes (settable) until you dismiss it. Great for things you have to do, but might be busy right at the moment the alarm first triggers. This alone was well worth the in-app purchase. DayMinder allows you to issue an alarm multiple times a day, for example ever hour, or 2, such as a stand up and walk around. You can clone an alarm and edit it. You can revive a dismissed alarm and edit it.
For my medications, I have a daily repeating Alarmed entry for each time of day. I have the Nag-Me function enabled for that alarm so that it goes off every 10 minutes for up to 15 times (the time interval can be whatever you want). I will get this alarm until I dismiss it, or the 15 notifications have occurred.
I my case, I have to take a set of meds in the morning, and another set in the evening. I have a separate Alarmed entry for the morning, with the Nag-Me described above, and another Alarmed entry for the evening meds, again with the above Nag-Me settings.
The Alarmed message for me is just "Meds", but it can be more specific if that helps your Mom.
The Alarmed iPhone app is free to use, minus the "Nag-Me" feature, which is an in-app purchase (I have found Nag-Me well worth it). So you can play with the app before you decide to pay anything extra.
I prefer the very flexible iPhone "Alarmed" app, from Yoctoville. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alarmed-reminders-timers/id371886784 I use it for about 95% of my alarms, reminders, timers, calendar events, etc... Daily alarms, such as "Lunch Time", wake up alarms, medication reminders, birthdays, anniversaries, licence renewal, state car inspection reminders, get up extra early because it is trash/recycling day, change HVAC air filters, appointments, time to leave for the airport, etc...
How I use it for my medications is described at the end. The basic features are free to use, but they are very useful. There is a one-time $5 U.S. in-app purchase to enable additional features (I think it is worth it). On the iPhone I can associate different sounds to different alarm events, so I can tell from the sound what the event is, or I can give it a priority by making it a soft and pleasant sound, or a harsh loud annoying sound. Alarmed sounds on my Apple Watch (standard Apple Watch sound only) and lets me dismiss or snooze the event. However, the Apple Watch does not allow unique sounds, but as I can just raise my wrist to see what the alarm was, I am willing to accept that limitation. You can create your own preset timers, and they can have their own unique alarm sounds. I have 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 minute, 1hr timers already setup. I can add more if needed. You can have geolocation alarms, so that when you are approaching a given location, you can get an alarm to pickup milk. Part of the in-app purchase are additional unique sounds, Nag-Me, and DayMinder. Nag-Me allows you to repeat the alarm every few minutes (settable) until you dismiss it. Great for things you have to do, but might be busy right at the moment the alarm first triggers. This alone was well worth the in-app purchase. DayMinder allows you to issue an alarm multiple times a day, for example ever hour, or 2, such as a stand up and walk around. You can clone an alarm and edit it. You can revive a dismissed alarm and edit it.
For my medications, I have a daily repeating Alarmed entry for each time of day. I have the Nag-Me function enabled for that alarm so that it goes off every 10 minutes for up to 15 times (the time interval can be whatever you want). I will get this alarm until I dismiss it, or the 15 notifications have occurred.
I my case, I have to take a set of meds in the morning, and another set in the evening. I have a separate Alarmed entry for the morning, with the Nag-Me described above, and another Alarmed entry for the evening meds, again with the above Nag-Me settings.
The Alarmed message for me is just "Meds", but it can be more specific if that helps your Mom.
The Alarmed iPhone app is free to use, minus the "Nag-Me" feature, which is an in-app purchase (I have found Nag-Me well worth it). So you can play with the app before you decide to pay anything extra.
Have you not tried the built-in Medication section of the Health app. I get reminders on my Watch and if I miss my "essential" meds it blasts out on both devices on full volume
Track your medications in Health on iPhone – Apple Support (UK)
Agreed about the built-in medication option of the Heath app. My wife started using that for a family member a year ago and it's super reliable for getting the medication reminders. Also, the ability to set up critical alerts is helpful.
Best medication reminder apps for Apple Watch and dementia patients?
