The identification of medication is obviously a safety issue as well as a health issue. If you are no longer able to see the pharmacy labels on your medicine containers, you will need to devise another way to identify them. The more medications you take, the more intricate your system will be.

One option is to use a tactual system. You can place different numbers of rubber bands, tape or clips to mark your bottles so you can tell them apart. Another option is to use large print or braille labels. Different shaped bottles and containers can also help you identify your medications. Read about Braille and Tactual Systems.

There are also several types of "pill organizers" or "talking devices" that can be purchased from TalkingRx.com [link opens in new window]? or MaxiAids.com [link opens in new window] or?our listing of?Sources of Products for Independent Living?for products that will assist you with identifying your medications. Illustrations are shown below.

If you do not have any adaptive equipment or alternative labeling system in place at this time, ask a family member or a friend who can read standard pharmacy labels to assist you with taking your medications.