Photo of the Medispenser, a tan cylindrical mechanical device, resting on a table

Medispenser: An automated medication dispensing system for elders to increase medication adherence and promote independence

The University of British Columbia

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.

RESNA Design Brief

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