Integration of medication monitoring and communication technologies in designing a usability-enhanced home solution for older adults

Technology-enabled solutions have been increasingly developed for aging-in-place. Previous studies have developed systems to assist older adults in managing medications and maintaining social connections. However, although developed for direct user interaction, most have failed to be sufficiently evaluated by users. This paper describes the development and testing of a home solution for older adults' medication management and communications. The system integrates RFID-based medication management and communications technologies with an intuitive interface. A long-term field trial was conducted for an extensive usability testing and evaluation. With its current design, the system was found to be useful, easy to use, and satisfying.