Consumers are more health conscious now than they ever were before. They are living longer as a result of changes in personal health maintenance, including tracking various medical statistics and taking more medications and vitamins. Add in rising medical costs, and it is no wonder that consumers are looking for more ways to monitor their health in the comfort of their own home. The medical industry has stepped up to the challenge, providing an ever-growing array of health related products and medical devices. You can easily find a selection of monitors, pill organizers and dispensing devices in your local pharmacy, supermarket or favorite department store.

However, if you are one of the millions of people who must deal with low vision or arthritis, some of these important tools for maintaining health can become an obstacle rather than an aid. For example, many people who are diabetic may have lost some of their vision as part of the normal progression of the disease. They still need to monitor their glucose level, yet, if they cannot read the results displayed on the glucose meter, they must ask someone to help them keep track of their results.

Dynamic Living has been searching for and building a selection of monitoring and dispensing devices that are designed for people who may have lost some or all of their vision. Low vision medical devices may have larger displays or they might be able to provide important information in an audible form. For example, the following products are available in a 'talking' format:

• Blood pressure monitor: The cuff is automatically inflated at the touch of a button. When the measurement is complete, the resulting blood pressure and pulse readings are clearly spoken.

• Prescription bottle accessory: You don't need to be confused about what medication is in a bottle when your prescription bottle can tell you what the contents are along with any important directions and warnings!

• Talking Personal Thermometer: This digital oral thermometer has both an LCD display and a female voice announcement to tell you your temperature.

For diabetics, there are magnifiers that enlarge syringe calibrations for the full length of the syringe and devices that allow the loading of a syringe by touch alone. We also have identified medical devices that are easier to use for people who might have the use of only one hand or who have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome:

• Insulin bottle caps: This inexpensive solutions enable a person to load syringes with one hand.

• A Pill crusher: A heavy-duty pill pulverizer can turn any tablet into a fine powder and doesn't require an abundance of strength to operate.

For those of us who need a little reminder when it is time for our medications:

• Talking Medication Reminder and Pill Organizer: A compact combination pill organizer and talking timer which allows you to set up to 4 daily alarms at the exact times you need your medication.

• Talking Count-down Timer: This beeper-sized timer has a clear female voice that announces the time for you, or acts as a count down timer.

• Watches: Some of these wearable reminding devices can be set for up to 12 alarm reminders. Other watches will simply vibrate at the appropriate time.

Being able to maintain our health is critical to our ability to sustain a desirable quality of life. If you have diminished hand strength or vision, these medical monitoring and dispensing devices are designed specifically to help you collect and understand important information and allow you to dispense your own medication. The ability to monitor your own health independently is not only more satisfying, but it can save tremendous expense when used as an alternative to visiting nurses or trips to a medical facility.

© Copyright 2002 Dynamic Living, Inc.
Dynamic Living Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.

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