A Collaborative Approach to Support Medication Management in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Conversational Assistants (CAs)

Abstract

Improving medication management for older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) requires designing systems that support functional independence and provide compensatory strategies as their abilities change. Traditional medication management interventions emphasize forming new habits alongside the traditional path of learning to use new technologies. In this study, we navigate designing for older adults with gradual cognitive decline by creating a conversational “check-in” system for routine medication management. We present the design of MATCHA - Medication Action To Check-In for Health Application, informed by exploratory focus groups and design sessions conducted with older adults with MCI and their caregivers, alongside our evaluation based on a two-phased deployment period of 20 weeks. Our results indicate that a conversational “check-in” medication management assistant increased system acceptance while also potentially decreasing the likelihood of accidental over-medication, a common concern for older adults dealing with MCI.