Expert Review - Medication Watch Alarm with Text Reminders

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Expert Review – Medication Watch Alarm with Text Reminders

Cadex Watch Time Display

Cadex Watch Alert Display

	MANUFACTURER
	e-pill LLC
	COST
	$89.00 retail (though available as low as $55 using an Internet search function)
	VENDORS
	e-pill LLC
	DISCLAIMER
	The listing of these products is for informational purposes and individuals must use their own caution and judgment when using these resources. Functional levels and changes in judgment and reasoning are highly variable in people with dementia. Interventions must be individualized and continually assessed because those that are effective for some individuals may only work briefly and may not work at all for others.

	DESCRIPTION
	The Cadex watch looks like an ordinary digital watch with time and date, but it also provides 1) text medication reminders with audible alarms and 2) storage for important information. This watch may be helpful for people with mild memory loss (if someone else programs the watch for them) or for caregivers who appreciate reminders to administer medication (especially if they're not taken at mealtimes). Medication Reminders ("Alarmbank") 12 daily alarms for medications 36 characters per medication name "Snooze" function – when alarm is turned off, a reminder beep continues until the snooze function is turned off. The idea is that the beep continues (up to 4 hours) as a reminder until the medication is taken and the alarm is turned off. There is no option for this snooze alarm – it always comes on after the initial alert is turned off. Alarms can also be used for other purposes - exercise, meals, medical tests, etc. All alarms can be activated or deactivated at once from a single display Information Storage ("Data Bank") 11 fields for important information like name, medical condition, allergies, doctor, contacts, etc. Both the stored information and the med alarms can be reviewed using one button
	PROS
	Relatively easy setup for someone familiar with multi-function digital watches (caregiver or family member) – otherwise it might not be useable. Good 12-medication alert function which allows for multiple meds on one alarm. Water resistant – could be worn in the shower, though manufacturer's website recommends not doing so. Reasonably priced and fairly normal looking, except for the red "Alert" button.
	CONS
	Very poor instruction sheet. If the medication name is more than 8 characters, it requires reading a scrolling line. The "Mode" button, which activates or deactivates all alarms, can be bumped inadvertently. When bumped, the display may change, showing the words "ALARM BANK," which could be confusing (and alarming) to someone who's expecting to see only the date and time (one of our reviewers was!) and does not know how to get back to the default date and time watch face. No way to include alarms for weekly medications – only daily. There is no back light, making the display unreadable in dim lighting. The Data Bank oddly includes fields for social security and credit card numbers, which could lead to identity theft or other security problems. User may not know which button to push to turn off alarm, as all four buttons are black. We highlighted one button in red to simplify turning off the alarm. Alarm beep isn't very loud – our tester with mild hearing impairment could not hear it. No control to increase the volume, nor a vibration option for those with hearing loss Person may refuse to wear due to the red "Alert" button.
	CAUTION
	As the button to activate or deactivate all alarms can be bumped inadvertently (the button sticks out and is not protected so it is easy to bump), the alarms may not ring when you do want them to. Continually check with the person to see if the watch face just shows date and time and if the alarms are still activated. On an ongoing basis, you'll need to double check to see if the person is actually taking their medications.

Product Selection Criteria

Our goal is to teach you how to be a good consumer and to help you learn about specific products and unique product features that may enhance your safety and the safety and function of the person with dementia. The products shown in This Caring Home serve as examples only. Manufacturers continually change product specifications and the products represented may be different from those now on the market.

We realize this is not an all-inclusive list. Products featured in This Caring Home were chosen for one or more of the following reasons:

Affordability
Attractiveness
Availability
Color selection
Ease of use
Quality
Safety

We encourage you to discuss product selection with other caregivers and health care professionals.

How We Tested

"ThisCaringHome.org tested many products that are commonly recommended for best practices to identify the best use of these products and any potential problems in their use by caregivers and individuals with dementia. Each product included in an Expert Review was tested in a home environment, either an apartment or a single family home (or both), by at least two people. Rosemary Bakker, interior designer, gerontologist and dementia specialist, was one of the testers for every product. Whenever possible, we tested the product over time, sometimes days, weeks, or months, for:

Ease of use
Reliability
Potential safety issues

As a result of our testing, we're listing the pros and cons for using these products and including safety precautions for various products. These products were not tested by persons with dementia. We hope in the future to do case studies to learn more about what works and what doesn't work in a larger variety of caregiving situations and home environments."

Products listed on our website but not tested by ThisCaringHome.org are referred to as "Product Listings".

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