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Q. What is the Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser? A. The Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser is an easy-to-use medication management system for individuals who have trouble remembering, organizing, and taking their medications. This fully integrated system simplifies medication organization and delivery, reminds individuals to dispense and take their medications on schedule, and monitors compliance. Our medication dispenser is a home-based system that will help dispense any solid oral medication plus give verbal and text reminders for non-oral medications or specific medication directions (i.e., "take with food").

Q. How does Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser work? A. At preprogrammed intervals, the medication dispenser will "announce" that it is time to take a medication dose. This announcement consists of multiple features: a reassuring voice message, a flashing light, and a text message. To dispense the medication dose, the individual simply presses the large red exterior button, and an easy-to-open, reusable plastic cup containing the medications is dispensed. Medications never touch the dispensing unit, thereby preventing potential contamination. Instructions, such as "Take with water" can be announced when the button is pressed. The remaining time until the next dose will be displayed on the easy-to-read LCD screen. When all medications for the day have been delivered, the screen will read "No More Medication Today."

Q. Who should use Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser? A. Our medication dispenser is designed for people who are caught in the "gap" between needing little or no medication assistance and full-time medication management. It works well for individuals who have trouble with forgetfulness, or who are likely to take too much or too little medication, or the wrong medication. It is ideal for people who suffer from mild to moderate dementia (Alzheimer's, psychiatric conditions) or dexterity issues (tremors, severe arthritis), as well as patients with complicated medication schedules, such as those with congestive heart failure.

Q. Is Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser easy to use? A. Our medication dispenser is remarkably easy to use. Its intelligent one-button design, multiple reminders (audible, visual, and text), and easy-to-open medicine dispensing cups make the Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser easy to use and operate for any individual capable of self-medicating.

Q. How does the monitoring service work? A. Using the individual's phone line, our medication dispenser will automatically call up to four caregivers in sequence, alerting them that the user has missed a dose. Any caregiver reached must acknowledge they received the call by pressing "1" on the phone keypad (this eliminates answering machines that have been reached). If all caregivers fail to respond to the message, the Guardian Medical Monitoring Support Center is alerted. The Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser does NOT need a special or separate phone line for this monitoring service, and ONLY utilizes the phone line when an alert or other action is needed. Our medication dispenser will also notify caregivers if medications run low and need to be refilled. In addition, it will call the Guardian Medical Monitoring Support Center each night via a toll-free number and perform a series of quality checks. If a Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser system does not perform the nightly call-in, the Support Center is alerted.

Q. Who installs and maintains Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser? A. It is designed to be easy to install and maintain. If the user is currently receiving help with daily medications, IMD recommends that the current caregiver install and maintain our medication dispenser. (Once installed, some individuals may be able to manage and maintain their units on their own.)

Q. Are the medications and the medication schedule secure? A.Yes. Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser has numerous features to safeguard medication security. For example, access to medication cups can be blocked via the locking medication compartment, ensuring that individuals only receive medications when appropriately scheduled. The keypad, used for programming, is also located behind this locking compartment, preventing any accidental changes. In addition, any missed doses remain stored in the medication compartment, thus eliminating the possibility of double dosing. Finally, the medication schedule can only be changed by calling the Guardian Medical Monitoring Support Center, or by using the secure section of the IMD web site.

Q. What if the user is away from home during dosing periods? A. The flexibility of our medication dispenser allows users to dispense their medications "early" so doses can be taken along. A special button labeled "EARLY DOSE" is located inside the locked cabinet. After the door is unlocked, the EARLY DOSE button is pressed and the next available dose is dispensed. The EARLY DOSE feature can be utilized for as many dosing periods as needed.

Q. Will the Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser continuously tie up a phone line? A. No. The medication dispenser utilizes the individual's existing phone line only to make outbound calls for actions such as alert or refilling reminders. A separate or special phone line is NOT needed.

Q. How many days of medications will the Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser hold? A. That depends on how many dosing periods per day the user needs. Our medication dispenser can dispense up to 6 dosing periods per day and hold up to 60 medication cups. Most people take their medications 2 to 3 times per day. In most cases, the medication dispenser will hold 3 to 4 weeks (20 to 30 days) of medication.

Q. What if the power goes out? A. The Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser comes with a battery backup that will provide alternative power for 12 to 18 hours.

Q. Does the Guardian Angel Medication Dispenser have special features to help the elderly and disabled? A. Yes. To help the visually impaired, reminders are both audible (spoken words and tones) and visual (a flashing red strobe light). The large red dispensing button is significantly raised and is easy to identify by touch alone. For the hearing impaired, reminders include multiple visual alerts and text messages. Audible volumes can be easily adjusted. The medication cups are large with easy-to-open lids (even for those with arthritis). The dispensing button has a very low push "threshold," making it easy to engage.