Dolma Tsundu, Clarissa Gunawan, Aeron Harefah, Jasper Lee, Jason Peacock, Arito Wada, Dolma Tsundu, and Diana Watson
Failure to take medication as prescribed, or non-adherence, among elderly individuals (adults over 65 years old) continues to be a pressing issue in the developed world. As this population faces several age-related barriers to taking their medication including physical impairments (e.g. decreased manual dexterity), and cognitive impairments (e.g. dementia), they are at a significant risk for medication non-adherence. This can lead to worsened health conditions and/or hospital admissions, affecting an individual’s independence, quality of life, and ability to participate in their communities. Thus, there is a great need for the design of affordable and intuitive interventions tailored to their age-related barriers.Medispenser is an automated medication dispenser that enable users who are prone to forgetting to take their medication, or struggle to physically open a pill bottle, to do so independently and at scheduled times. It also informs caregivers and physicians through automated logging and real-time text alerts. Users register their device and input their schedule through a web application. Through this application users, caregivers and physicians, are able to access their adherence data. The dispenser itself consists of stackable modules, each of which can store at least a month’s worth of one type of pill yet dispenses pills individually. The dispensing mechanism is controlled by an Arduino.Medispenser addresses the age-related barriers to medication adherence, increasing accessibility to an affordable and intuitive solution. It promotes the health and well-being of elders with disabilities and their caregivers.