Put Your Old PDA to GOOD Use

A caregiver contacted me recently and asked if OnTimeRx software would work on an old Palm devices. This person had an old M515 Palm PDA lying around and thought it might be useful for his elderly mother to remember to take her pills.

Not only will it work... That's a PERFECT USE for IT!! (It certainly isn't doing ANYONE any good stuck in a desk drawer storing dead batteries. )

I've been advocating the use of PDAs for older people for years. We can document that they work well by the results of a small compliance study that was conducted at PennState, using Palm devices. Dr. William Curry wanted to see if older patients in his Family Practice setting could handle the technology. Much to his delight and mine, they did very well. In fact the oldest participant in the study was 87 and she had a 97% compliance rate. It was almost too good to be believable, but it was true.

"In a pilot study in the fall of 2005, 10 individuals aged 36 to 87 years participated in a one month trial of the PDA and OnTimeRx software. Adherence improved by using the device and exceeded 95% in almost all participants, with a 97% rate in the eldest participant."

So... What's AGE got to do with it? Really!!!
Technology comes in many forms and can help people of all ages if they're willing to try new things.

One of the biggest barriers to more people using OnTimeRx software these days is the fact that Palm has stopped producing the Palm OS hardware. So about the only way that "Boomers and beyond" can utilize the PDA medication reminder approach is by borrowing old devices from their children or grandchildren.

This should not pose a problem for anyone concerned, because as each new device comes along, a person upgrades and rarely disposes of the old "obsolete" device. They're around somewhere, just aching to be put back into service for a "Good Cause"... and what better "cause" is there if Grandma needs to be gently reminded to take her pills.

Some older Palm and Windows Mobile devices can also still be found on eBay at really good prices - if you act fast. I would LOVE to see old PDAs collected and recycled for use by seniors - just like they do old cell phones.

Why not repurpose YOUR old hand held devices and turn them into excellent pill reminders for the grandparents in your life. Who knows? It may be just what the doctor ordered!... and he didn't even know it existed. Give it a try.