Time for a "Reality Check"?

I'm frequently asked to describe OnTimeRx automated reminders, and this is the usual and immediate reaction:

"What a great idea! My grandmother is always forgetting to take her heart medication. She could really use this!"

But when I describe the reminders to a grandmother, I get a totally different reply:
"Oh good gracious! I don't need reminders. I'm not that far gone!"

No disrespect, but.... "Granny" needs a Reality Check!

This is a typical and totally understandable reaction - even if it's based on an irrational fear. She may NOT be remembering to do everything as well as she thinks. Very few of us do.

For some reason, we all tend to think it's inevitable that someday our family will decide that we can't handle our own care anymore. Instead of doing something NOW that will keep that from happening, people tend to deny it will ever happen to them - until it's too late!

I worked for 18 years in a nursing home and I know from experience that most of the residents were placed there by their families when they felt the parent could no longer be trusted to take their medications responsibly.

Even though medication reminders seem like the perfect solution to the younger generation, Granny sees this as a reminder of a different sort and the "denial" stage kicks in and the barriers go up. . Basically she feels she's being told she's getting too old to live alone, and she will fight that to the bitter end. Unfortunately, it's a downhill slope from there, but it doesn't have to be.

Most caregivers are in "sandwich generatiion", the 30 to 50-something age range, and are very comfortable with technology. Why not try some reminders for your own meds or tasks first and see if they help. Then try to entice "Granny" to get with the program. After all, what has she got to lose but her "independence"?!!!