• Large containers: These have a larger lid to help with grip when opening containers.
• Easy opening bottle tops: Non child resistant tops can be easier to open for those having difficulty opening containers.
• Winged caps: Non child resistant tops with a wing attachment that is easier to open.
• A pill press: A device that helps medicines to be pushed out of blister packs (the wrong end of a teaspoon can also be used to do this).
• A pill punch: A device that helps medicines to be pushed out of blister packs.
• Eye drop dispensers: These help you apply eye drops and various options are available. Usually need to buy.
• Inhaler aids: Aids to help you grip, trigger or twist an inhaler device.
• Medication tube squeezers: Helps to squeeze content out of tubes and also reduces waste.
• Oral syringes: Can make it easier to measure liquid medicines accurately from medicines bottles. 
• Lotion applicators: Helps to apply creams in hard-to-reach places.

• Medication reminder charts: A paper-based chart to summarise medicines, what they are for and when to take them.
• Medication tick charts: A paper-based chart where you record when you have taken your medicine.
• Reminder alarms e.g. watch alarms, phone apps: Electronic devices to help you to remember to take medication.
• Simplify medicine taking: Speak to your GP or pharmacist as it may be possible to simplify your medication regime e.g., change to a once a-day medicine.
• Downloadable apps e.g. Medsafe Pill Reminder, MyTherapy Medication Reminder & Pill Tracker, Pill Reminder All In One: There are a number of free apps that you can download and use to help to remind you to take your medicines. 
• Multi-compartment compliance Aid (MCA): See below for more information on the pros and cons of this type of system.

• Large print labels: A pharmacy should be able to do this for you.
• Large diagrams or pictures: You can draw/attach pictures onto the box to show when a tablet is to be taken e.g., sun for the morning or moon for at night.
• Magnifying glass: You can buy a magnifying glass to help you read labels and packaging.
• Braille: Ask your pharmacy about the options they have for supplying your tablets with Braille.
• Talking/audio labels: You can buy these devices to read the label out loud for you.
• Colour coding: Coloured dots can be stuck on your medicines to show what they are for. A colour coded key is also needed if this method is used.
• Tactile identifiers: You can attach something to the tablet box e.g., elastic band, staples, tear in the lid of the box.

An MCA is a general term for a container used for storing medicines, which is divided into compartments by day and/or time. There are many styles available. They are sometimes referred to as a monitored dosage system (MDS) or dosette box.

They are often thought to be the preferred choice when someone is having difficulties managing their medicines but this if often not the case and there are many more options available that may be better suited. 

MCAs should not be used to make it easier for someone else to give the medicines to you e.g., a carer or family member.

Pros

• Can help when having to take lots of medicines.
• Can give reassurance that the medicines have been taken.

Cons

• Community pharmacies do not have to supply medicines in an MCA. If they agree to do this, they may charge for providing this service.  A small number of people may qualify for a free MCA following an assessment – ask your community pharmacy about this.

• Not all medicines are suitable for supplying in an MCA. If you have some medicines in an MCA and some that are not this could create more confusion and missed medicines. For example, medicines that are outside of the MCA may be forgotten.

• MCAs have fixed times of day for when medicines are taken. Some medicines may not fit in with these times.

• It is difficult for people to follow special instructions the different medicines may have. For example, medicines to be taken on an empty stomach or with food are often in the same section.

• Medicines within an MCA are taken out of the manufacturers packaging. This may affect the medicines stability so that the medicine does not work as well as it should.

• Putting more than one medicine together makes each medicine difficult to tell apart. This could be a problem if your health care professional changes a medicine and may lead to all the medicines in the box having to be replaced with significant costs to the NHS.

• Even if only one medicine is the MCA is changed the whole box may have to be replaced. This can mean a new prescription is needed for all the medicines in the box and it may take longer for the change in medicine to happen.

• Extra plastic packaging which can affect the environment.