This Automatic Pill Dispenser Makes Sure My Mom Takes the Right Pills at the Right Time

I set up an optional four-digit passcode to restrict access to the medications stored inside the machine. Although I didn't choose to require the code to dispense pills, I could have — it's a good safety feature if you store controlled substances or have young children around. That said, the Hero is not a lockbox and would be fairly easy to break into. And the company doesn't recommend it for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other severe memory problems; although it has a few safeguards, it can't guarantee that someone will take medications as directed.
Refilling the machine, by following the display prompts on the device, is simple. (Mom could handle that herself, but refilling medications provides an excuse for me to check in and say hi.) The device estimates pill volume and notifies you on the app when a medication runs low, but entering pill counts during refills makes that feature more precise. I also get notifications if Mom is late taking a dose or intentionally skipped it (an option on the machine's display when it's time to dispense).
Every month I refill the Hero for my mom with her medications. I chose to set a passcode to limit access to the pills stored inside the machine.
Teresa Carr for NYT Wirecutter
If Mom decides that she would like to take her pills earlier or later, it's easy for me to alter the schedule through the app. And I have had no problem managing changes in her regimen: On the app, I enter a new drug or delete an old one and then follow the machine's instructions to add or remove pills. I've also found it easy to customize settings such as how often and loudly the Hero sends alerts, as well as how long after the designated time Mom can dispense her meds.
Adherence to her medication schedule is vital to Mom's health, so it's comforting to see green checkmarks on the app when she dispenses her drugs. An 'insight' section displays how many doses she took as scheduled, as well as the average time to dispense over weeks and months.
It also has settings that you can use if you're traveling, which we haven't used before, but it's nice to know that they're available. Before a trip you can dispense medications in advance and enter how long you'll be away. (In vacation mode, the device doesn't provide audible alerts, but the app still sends notifications.) To transport the device itself, you need to first empty pills back into their labeled containers and then use the provided locking bar to keep the bins from jostling.

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