Product Reviews for Senior Citizens

It's that time again, time for us to bring you our picks of gadgets and gizmos to enhance the quality of life for your loved one. Take a look at Medsmart, a medication dispensing device that can help your loved one maintain his or her independence by managing their medication in their own home. And take a look at the Landeez all-terrain wheelchair, which not only allows your loved one increased mobility, but also allows him or her to enjoy nature and participate more fully in life. Check out the Memory Keeper, a combination photo album/scrapbook that provides a tangible link to precious memories, and the Life Stories Game, a great activity for family gatherings. And don't forget the Ibeam watch, a handy device that does more than just tell the time. Whether you're looking for a special gift or for something just to make life easier, you're sure to find something here for your loved one.

Ibeam Watch

At first glance, the Ibeam watch looks much like any other digital watch. Oh, it's a nice digital watch. In addition to showing the time, it shows the day of the week and the date. You can choose whether you want the time displayed in 12-hour format or 24-hour format (military time). It comes in a variety of colors and styles for men and women. It's water resistant. It has four daily alarm settings. It has an optional chime setting to chime on every hour.

But here's what makes the Ibeam watch unique, and what makes it such a good product for senior citizens. Covering the face of the watch is a pop-up magnifying glass. Just pop up the magnifying glass and use it to read fine print on any publication. It also has a built-in LED flashlight, making reading fine print even easier, especially in dim light.

The Ibeam watch is available at www.ibeam.com. You can also call 1-888-577-3214. The Ibeam watch sells for $59 for any style.

Medsmart

The importance of taking medication correctly cannot be overemphasized. Medication errors, such as forgetting to take medication, taking the wrong medication, or taking too much or too little medication can have serious consequences for our elderly loved ones. And often, the elderly are on so many prescription medications that keeping track of them all can be quite confusing. Opening all those medication bottles can be difficult for those with arthritis, and those with diminishing eyesight may have difficult reading the instructions printed on medication bottles.

Medsmart is a medication dispensing system. We've featured other medication aids in these articles before, but this is another one worth bringing to your attention. Medsmart can be programmed to alert your loved one up to six times a day that it is time to take their medication. Both a flashing light and a sound alarm go off when it's time to take the next dose.

Medsmart has a circular tray and different templates that you select according to your loved one's dosing schedule. You fill the tray accordingly, then close and lock the device. Only the current dose of pills will be available at any given time. When the alarm goes off, your loved one simply turns the unit upside down to dispense the proper pills.

Medsmart is made by Epill. The unit sells normally sells for $595, but may be available for a discount. To check on the current price or to place an order, call 1-800-549-0095 or visit www.epill.com.

Memory Keeper

The Memory Keeper is rather like a scrapbook that can be used to keep photos and other memorabilia. All senior citizens have precious memories to keep and treasure, but a scrapbook like the Memory Keeper can be especially valuable for those in the early stages of Alzheimer's who need such touchstones.

The Memory Keeper consists of four framed sections, including one for an 8 X 10 photo, one for an 8 X 10 or matted 5 X 7 (mat included), and one for a 5 X 7 or matted 4 X 6 (again, mat is included). It includes a sign in page for best wishes and 12 pages for photos or other mementos. The hardbound cover wipes clean with ease.

It's easy to assemble photos and other mementos in the Memory Keeper, and putting one together can be an enjoyable activity to do with your loved one. Or, you can set up the Memory Keeper yourself and present it as a gift. Either way, it should spark good conversation and provide your loved one with comforting reminders of special times and special people.

The Memory Keeper is available for $30 from Elderluxe. Call 1-888-537-LUXE (5893) or visit www.elderluxe.com to order.

Life Stories Game

The Life Stories Game is a non-competitive storytelling game. It's suitable for all ages so it's great for family gatherings. It's designed for 2 - 8 players. Players draw cards with engaging questions such as "If you had a month to do anything you wanted to do, and cost wouldn't be a factor, what would you do?" and "Tell us about the kids you grew up with- your crowd." The questions are designed to encourage reminiscing and to stimulate conversation.

The Life Stories Game is available from the Senior Store for $29.95. Call 1-800-704-5913 or visit www.seniorstore.com to order yours.

Landeez All-Terrain Wheelchair

There are a lot of places wheelchair users normally can't go. Rough, rocky ground. Sand, like at the beach. Snow drifts. Wheelchair users are used to being cut off from nature. Well, the Landeez all-terrain wheelchair was specifically designed to correct that.

The Landeez rolls easily over sand, snow, and gravel. It has soft plastic pneumatic tires that absorb road shocks for a comfortable ride. It's lightweight, weighing only 37 pounds, and easily disassembles for transporting in the car. The front casters rotate 360 degrees, allowing you to make tight turns in narrow hallways or elevators. The leg rests are adjustable for maximum comfort.

You can purchase interchangeable street wheels if you like, making the chair suitable for indoor use in public places as well as outdoors. There are a number of other optional accessories available as well, including a beach umbrella, a reading stand, and a handy drink holder.

The Landeez all-terrain wheelchair costs about $3000, but the price may vary depending upon which accessories you select. For more information or for a price list, contact 1-800-411-7789 or visit the Landeez website at www.landeez.com.