The first link at kat's 20 Dec 10 - 11:52 AM post is similar to the "under counter" one I mantioned later. I would expect that the ones shown could be mounted either way.

A problem with these is that it can require that the jar be pushed quite firmly into the "wedge" to get a sufficiently secure grip to be helpful. Most people will use two hands to make one work. The best location (face up on top of a counter to grip the jar or face down on an "under surface" to grip the lid) should consider what the person who will use it most can do most easily. The healthy adult who installs one may not find the best placement for the person who needs it.

A "feature" shown in the ads at kat's links claims that one of them can open "childproof caps." I rather doubt that most people who need the assistance of the devices described for ordinary jars will be able to apply the necessary force one handed to make them do this, for most of the childproof lids in common use by our pharmacists, and this may be a real problem. In any event, the ones shown might work on the "push down and turn" type of childproof cap, but I can't see how they would be of any help for the ones on which you have to push a side-tab in while turning the cap.

A first step is to inform her pharmacist that you do NOT WANT CHILDPROOF CAPS on any of her medications. This will work once, and maybe twice with some pharmacies, but isn't something you can rely on unless you inspect and insist each time new meds are ordered.

It probably is obvious that the smaller medicine bottles (from our multiple pharmacies) usually come with a childproof lid that can be removed and replace "upside down" so that it's not self-locking. This works as long as the person doesn't accidentally turn the cap back over. Depending on the patient involved, it may be best to use a pair of pliers the first time the cap is turned over, to break the rim of the cap to remove the "lock bar" that usually extends down one side (sometimes two sides). Breaking off the side tab that you "push in to turn" might be possible, but in my experience is likely to crack the bottle itself.

If you have the tools to do it, complete removal of the "locking side" rim and a "pretty finish" would be a nice touch, and the lids from one bottle usually will fit the next new bottle, so sometimes it might be worth making a "permanent" non-locking cap of each size.

The "cap in a cap" style of childproof cap used on larger prescription bottles by most pharmacies in my area can be "de-proofed" fairly easily by a person with normal two-handed strength by using a pair of pliers to work the rim of the outer cap out (or break it off in pieces) until the inner cap slips out. Throw the outer cap away and use only the inner one. (The inner cap may be a bit ugly, but it should work well.)

Since the cap-in-cap style takes a bit of work, it might be a good idea to make a couple of "spares" if old bottles are available. You can usually just transfer the cap you've already "fixed" to the next bottle, but you might not be there when a new med is added, and the caps are generally interchangeable.

There are a very few meds that deteriorate and need to be used strictly in as-received order, but most have sufficient shelf life to permit you to transfer a few remaining ones to the next new bottle so that only one bottle at a time is on hand for each Rx.

It shouldn't take long to make sure that your one-hander doesn't have to fight with medicines the can't easily get into.

You should be very careful to insure that the bottle in use is the last one received since the label is you best information to check when refills need to be ordered (if the label is marked as required by US pharm regulations). Some pharmacies will inform their patrons when refills are due, but we haven't found it safe to rely on ours to do so.

If there is concern that "unchildproofing" the meds creates a risk, most pharmacies here have "bottle vaults" consisting of (usually) four large jars with a fold-over lid that has a key lock. Most prescription medication bottles will fit inside one of the "vault bottles" easily, and the key lock assures curious children (or pets?) won't get into them. If larger bottles won't fit, you could use a "cash box" or "key vault" with locking lid to keep them in, if you select one of a convenient size to be placed where the drug user can get in and out of them conveniently.

Even if you don't feel that the meds currently in use need to be kept in a secure place, in some circumstances "reserve supplies" might be considered for such management.

You also need to check whether the person takes "liquid meds" that often come in larger (compared to pill jugs) bottles and may need some other methods for un-protecting the bottles while at the same time securing the contents from unintended access.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE helping the person with prescriptions, it is ESSENTIAL that you know where and what they are, and it's a good idea in any case; but be aware that some may be "sensitive" about sharing that information. (Sometimes you need to be a bit sneaky?)

And of course just be sure - as with all the rest here - that the "patient" understands and agrees with what you do - or plan to do - for them.

John