MEDTIME: AN INTELLIGENT MEDICATION MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR THE ELDERLY - INTEGRATING IOT, MOBILE APPLICATION, AND ACCESSIBILITY TO SUPPORT PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS

Abstract

Population aging and the growth of chronic diseases have increased the reliance on continuous medication among older adults, making therapeutic adherence one of the main public health challenges. Recent studies indicate that more than 50% of patients do not properly follow their prescribed treatments, with older adults being more susceptible to issues such as forgetfulness, dose duplication, and hospitalizations related to incorrect medication use. In this context, this study presents the development of MedTime, a prototype designed for medication management and monitoring, integrating Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, a mobile application, and digital accessibility principles. The proposed solution aims to support therapeutic control for older adults and assist caregivers by enabling the monitoring of schedules, dosages, and usage records through intelligent notifications and remote monitoring. The prototype includes a medication box connected to an ESP32 microcontroller, capable of detecting compartment openings and recording access events, as well as a mobile application developed using React Native, featuring personalized reminders, an accessible interface, and a monitoring dashboard. The system design followed digital accessibility guidelines, particularly WCAG 2.2, which emphasize the development of interfaces that are perceivable, operable, and understandable for users with visual, motor, and cognitive limitations. The development process adopted an agile and user-centered methodology, structured into stages of requirements analysis, architectural definition, incremental prototype implementation, and functional testing. The results indicate that the integration of IoT and mHealth solutions has the potential to provide more automated and accessible monitoring, representing a promising alternative to support medication adherence and improve the quality of life of older adults, as well as the work of caregivers and healthcare professionals.