HUGMEDAPP
01
Our introduction.
IoT-enabled smart device + mobile/web portal
Smart Medication Reminder System for Older Adults Living at Home and Taking Multiple Medications
Role
UX Design | UI Design | User Research | Project Management | Product Strategy
02
The Current Situation
Medication non-adherence leads to worsening conditions, hospital readmissions, and higher costs.
Current solutions fall short - Pillboxes & reminder apps lack insight into behavior patterns or risks.
Caregivers & doctors struggle to know if patients take meds correctly.
03
Medication Non-Adherence: A Critical Challenge
9/10
take prescription meds
65+ Population in the US
84.8%
had low adherence
04
Ecosystem
Older Adults
Need simple reminders and easy-to-use tools to manage multiple prescriptions independently.
Caregivers
Caregivers Caregivers need visibility into adherence without constant checking, seeking peace of mind and reduced stress.
Clinicians
Need accurate data, early alerts, and quick summaries to manage treatments for multiple patients effectively.
Insurance Companies
Insurance CompaniesAim to reduce hospital readmissions and costs and seek proof of adherence to justify coverage.
05
User Research
We conducted interviews with older adults and clinicians—including oncologists, pharmacists, surgeons, and nurse practitioners—about their own experiences or what they have encountered while caring for patients.
25 Older Adults
28 Clinicians
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06
Persona
Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Live independently at home, not in assisted facilities
Manage multiple daily medications with complex schedules
Value autonomy but struggle with memory or routine tracking
Desire simple, non-intrusive tools that support independence
Pain Point 1: Forgetfulness
Older adults often forget or mix up doses due to memory decline and complex routines.
Solution 1: Clear Guidance & Motivational Feedback
The home page displays timely notifications and a progress bar that tracks daily medication intake and upcoming doses. This visual feedback helps older adults stay on schedule, avoid missed doses, and feel rewarded for maintaining consistent routines.
Pain Point 2: Communication
Older adults sometimes stop medications on their own or struggle to explain clearly how they taking them to clinicians.
Solution 2: Visualized Communication Tools
Color-coded reports and calendar views translate medication data into clear visuals, helping older adults and clinicians quickly understand adherence patterns and discuss issues more effectively.
Pain Point 3: Dependence
Many older adults avoid technology, relying on caregivers to manage their medications.
Solution 3: Guided Independent Setup
A guided, step-by-step setup process designed around familiar medication routines helps older adults independently configure reminders with ease, reducing reliance on caregivers.
Brainstorming
User Journey
Wireframe
Design Detail
The design lets users set up their medication schedule based on their existing habits. Since many older adults take multiple medications at specific times of day, the app allows them to save commonly used timers and reuse those times when adding new medications
The color-coded medication report helps users identify behavior patterns—such as frequently missing doses on certain days—and supports them in improving overall medication adherence.
07
Impact
Early Feedback & Insights
Through initial user tests and interviews with older adults and caregivers. Participants responded positively to our solution. They valued the reminder system for reducing forgetfulness, the visual reports for improving communication with doctors, and the ease of use after setup, which supports independence.
25%
Improved Task Completion Rate
30%
Reduced Time Space Navigating the App
At the same time, feedback highlighted that caregivers may need to assist with the initial setup and that visualizations could be further developed to better support clinical use.
08
Future Directions
Onboarding Guidance
Develop an interactive onboarding session that walks users through adding medications, connecting smart stickers, and recording intake status to ensure a smoother first-time setup experience.
Enhanced Reports
Refine the reporting system with clearer, more distinct color coding to help users easily distinguish between different medication types and intake patterns.
Caregiver & Clinician Authorization
Establish a secure authorization system that clearly communicates data privacy while allowing users to share adherence reports with approved caregivers and clinicians for timely updates and coordinated care.