IASO
Iaso — a comprehensive medication management system tailored for older adults facing memory impairment and multiple chronic conditions. By seamlessly uniting devices and mobile interfaces, Iaso streamlines the complexities of medication management, reducing the risk of missed doses and medication mix-ups. It's a holistic solution for enhanced well-being in older adults.
Year
2024
Category
UI/UX Design, Product Design, & Service Design
Role
Design Lead (UI/UX, Branding, and Visual Design)
Winning Awards
Red Dot Design Award
IDA Design Awards
Muse Design Awards
LICC (London International Creative Competition)
Background
In an aging society, managing chronic conditions and memory impairments is a growing challenge, with 40% of older adults experiencing memory issues leading to missed doses and medication errors. Noncompliance causes over 125,000 deaths annually and costs the U.S. over $100 billion. Current solutions lack user-friendly, personalized support, highlighting the urgent need for innovative tools to simplify medication management and enhance home care for this demographic.
Problem &
Opportunity
Elderly individuals with chronic conditions often face challenges in managing complex medication regimens due to memory and cognitive issues, leading to missed doses and health risks.
There is a need for a solution that ensures adherence to medication schedules, reduces errors, and improves their overall well-being.
Research &
Insights
To design an effective medication management system, I conducted user interviews to understand the daily habits and challenges of individuals managing multiple medications.
Interviews & Observations
We spoke with 10 seniors, including in-depth interviews with Wei (57) and Yi (56), to explore their medication habits and challenges.
Wei (57, male)
Regularly takes multiple vitamins and medications but struggles with remembering both pill and hydrate-based medicines.
Yi (56, female)
Manages and prepares the pills daily, often mixing them together, sometimes leading to incorrect dosages.
Interviews revealed key challenges in medication management, including forgetfulness, difficulty picking up small pills, and differentiating betweenpill types, leading to dosage confusion.
User Research Insights (Pain Points)
Inconsistent Medication Schedule
Seniors struggle to maintain a consistent schedule for taking their medications.
Confusion in Medication Order
Seniors find it challenging to remember and follow the correct order in which to take their various medications.
Uncertainty in Pill Recognition
Identifying the correct pill and associating it with a specific ailment proves to be a common challenge.
Difficulty in Organizing Medications
Seniors often face difficulties in keeping their pill bottles organized, and may overlook checking expiration dates.
Necessity for Pill Organizers
A significant portion of seniors use pill organizers available in the market to help manage their medications.
Confusion in Medication Order
A significant portion of seniors use pill organizers available in the market to help manage their medications.
Competitor Analysis
Current pill containers and products primarily offer single-function assistance, centered on providing reminders for specific times and prioritizing portability. In these systems, the responsibility for pill organization and time management is entirely placed on the users themselves.
Goal
Our competitive research highlighted critical gaps in existing medication management solutions, such as poor usability, lack of caregiver support, and limited accessibility for seniors. These insights helped us establish IASO’s core goal:
Convenience
The solution strives to ensure that medication management is effortless for seniors and their families alike. With user-friendly pillboxes and an intuitive app, taking the right medication at the right time becomes a seamless process.
Accessibility
The system aims to make medications readily available to seniors. The solution complements this by offering clear displays and simple navigation, ensuring accessibility for users of all technological backgrounds.
Legibility
The solution extends peace of mind to families as well. Through our app, family members receive real-time updates on their loved ones' medication adherence. This transparency enables families to actively participate in their elderly relatives' health and well-being.
Solution:
IASO
Pill Dispenser
Iaso’s automated dispenser combines user-friendly design with practicality, featuring a rounded, tactile form that adds warmth and simplifies medication management. Enhanced lighting, sound alerts, and reminder functions cater to elderly users, offering a humanized and inviting experience.
Mobile App
The Iaso mobile app complements the device, offering an intuitive interface for elderly users and enabling family members to monitor and support their loved ones’ medication routines, improving communication and care.
Process
Understand the needs of different user types
Seniors managing medications fall into three main groups:
Define User Journey & Flow
How might we simplify medication management for older adults while ensuring safety, adherence, and caregiver support?
Design
Assets
Impact
What’s improved?
After testing the IASO prototype again with the same group of interview participants, we found that seniors felt more confident and comfortable managing their medications independently.
85%
of seniors reported feeling more confident managing their medications independently after using IASO.
75%
experienced fewer missed doses compared to their previous manual tracking methods.
80%
of family caregivers found it easier to monitor their loved one’s medication schedule remotely.
90%
of family caregivers found it easier to monitor their loved one’s medication schedule remotely.
