No matter what system is chosen, proper storage of medications is essential. Keep medicines stored in a cool, dry area away from moisture or heat. The kitchen cabinets often serve as a favorite place to keep medicines. Be sure that the cabinets chosen aren’t subject to the moisture or heat changes near refrigerators, dishwasher steam, or even steam from the kitchen sink. The holds true for bathroom cabinets as well.

Also, keep medications in their original container until they are ready to be administered or placed into a pill organizer. It is okay to make notes on the bottle with a black marker, such as a Sharpie®, to make instructions more clear for your loved one or other caregivers. When moving medicines into a pill organizer, make sure not to take out more than one week’s worth. 

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind recommends some of the following methods when considering a system to organize medications:

• Using a pill organizer with one or more sections for each day. If your loved one is taking multiple medications, it may be best to associate these with a meal or event rather than a particular time of the day. You can “re-label” the time slots with the event to make it more user-friendly.

• There are electronic pill organizers which can dispense medications on a set schedule. Some of these only have beepers or other reminders to let individuals know when medications need to be dispensed. Others can dispense medications on a pre-programmed schedule. The only caution with these is the programming and being certain that the device helps in your particular environment. The elderly may or may not be receptive to their use.

• Organizing medication on one shelf alphabetically or according to their frequency of use. If you choose this method, be sure that your loved one can read the labels on the bottle and that they are able to open the bottles without help. Also, you may need to set reminders to let them know when it is time to take each dose.

• Using personal markers or even colors on the top of the bottle so each medication can be readily identified. Blind persons can even put Braille wording on the top of the cap to make sure that each medication is taken accurately.

• Changing pill bottle shapes or sizes to differentiate between medications.

• Also, putting rubber bands on the bottle to indicate how many doses need to be taken each day. Each time a dosage is taken, remove a rubber band and at the end of the day, replace them.

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