Medication Aids

Arthritis can affect grip strength by causing joint inflammation, pain, and stiffness. These symptoms can make it difficult to grip objects firmly, resulting in decreased grip strength and limited dexterity.

Haler Aid is a device that attaches to your metered-dose inhaler (MDI) or puffer inhaler. It makes it much easier to activate a dose by squeezing with your hand rather than your index finger alone. This is useful for anyone who finds it difficult to coordinate their finger movements or has weakness in their hands.

Pill poppers help to remove a pill from a blister pack for those who find it difficult. Eye drop dispensers fit onto an eye drop bottle and make it easier to squeeze the bottle, some are designed to instil drops into the eye accurately. Bottle openers are also a valuable tool for those with a weak grip.

A dossette box is an appliance where your medicines can be placed in individual doses according to the days of the week and times of the day to take them. You can purchase your pillbox organizer and make it up yourself or with the help of a friend or family member in advance. Some have timers that can alert you when you are due to take your medicines.

Alternatively, you can request to receive dossette boxes already made up from your pharmacy. It is not always free under and you may need to meet specific requirements to receive them.

Pill crushers and cutters are available to purchase that can crush tablets into a powder for sprinkling with food or cut tablets into a smaller sizes for greater ease of swallowing. Some capsules can also be opened. Some tablets that have a prolonged release action or have a protective coating are not suitable to be crushed or cut. Check with your pharmacist if your pills are suitable to be cut or crushed before doing this. Your doctor also may be able to prescribe you the liquid form of your medicines if clinically needed.