At 88, Marianne Blake continues to live independently, but her daughter, Patty Soulsby, worries about whether she remembers to take her medications. Blake acknowledges that her memory has declined but feels capable of remaining safely in her own home.

Medication management is a growing concern among older adults with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Research suggests that millions of older Americans living alone experience memory and thinking difficulties, increasing the risk of medication errors and hospitalization.

To address this challenge, UC Davis Health researchers are testing an AI-assisted, home-based medication device designed to help older adults take their prescriptions correctly while allowing caregivers to remotely confirm that medications were taken.

Developed by HiDO Health, the device stores multiple medications and is designed to dispense the correct dose at the appropriate time, verify the user, and record medication use. Unlike traditional pillboxes and reminder systems, it aims to answer a critical question: Did the medication actually get taken?

The clinical trial, supported by a $2.48 million National Institute on Aging grant, will involve 50 people with mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia. Researchers will track medication adherence, cognitive function, daily activities, and health indicators over one year.

The goal is not simply to test the technology, but to determine whether it can provide meaningful support for older adults while reducing the burden on caregivers.

If successful, the approach could help people with cognitive impairment remain independent, stay in their homes longer, and maintain a better quality of life, while giving families greater confidence and peace of mind.

For caregivers like Soulsby, the potential benefit is straightforward: knowing that a loved one has taken their medication without needing to check constantly could make supporting aging family members much easier.

Source: https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/clinical-trial-tests-ai-assisted-medication-device-for-older-adults-with-memory-loss/2026/09