Dementia is a neurodegenerative disease impacting tens of millions globally, and the number is expected to triple by 2050. Common symptoms of dementia include poor recollection, confusion and paranoia. Although there are medications to alleviate some of these symptoms, remembering to adhere to the medication is often a challenge for seniors with dementia.

Seeing this, our speaker, Joy Akinkunmi, created the Pill Smart. The Pill Smart is an automatic pill dispenser for seniors with mild and moderate dementia.

Designed with adaptive features, such as reminder settings, the device aims to increase medication adherence among this demographic.

The Pill Smart is completed with an app for a caregiver to track device activity. Hopefully, the Pill Smart will be the future of assistive devices for medication adherence in people with dementia.

Joy is a high school student and an aspiring doctor and innovative thinker dedicated to enhancing healthcare through technology. Inspired by her experience caring for her grandmother with dementia, she developed "The Pill Smart," an automatic pill dispenser complemented by an app tailored for seniors.

In addition to her project work, Joy is deeply committed to her community. Her passion for healthcare extends to leading "Healthcare Horizons," a club at her school that offers workshops and insights into the healthcare system, empowering her peers with knowledge and skills. Joy also plays an active role in student governance on the Student Advisory Council and serves on the RCMP National Advisory Youth Council. Outside of STEM, Joy enjoys playing basketball at her school and volunteering at her local library.

In the future, Joy plans to pursue a post-secondary education focused on medicine and biomedical engineering. She aims to continue developing healthcare devices that improve the quality of life for patients, particularly those with cognitive impairments. Joy’s commitment to innovation and community leadership reflects her dedication to making a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare.

To learn more about the Pill Smart 2.0, go to:

https://partner.projectboard.world/ysc/project/pill-smart-2-0

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/inspired-by-family-member-with-dementia-n-s-teen-creates-automated-pill-dispenser-1.7410835

To learn more about Imhotep’s Legacy Academy (the mentorship group from Dalhousie University that Joy mentioned), go to:

https://www.imhotep.ca/en/

To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to:

http://rotary.cool