I have developed a medication management system using Home Assistant, which utilizes NFC tags (but still works with the GUI). This system has been incredibly helpful for me in keeping track of my medications and reminding me when necessary. Here are some of its benefits:
- Easy medication tracking: I simply scan the NFC tag associated with each medication or supplement using a mix of cards, stickers, and coins, depending on the packaging.
- Mobile reminders: It sends reminders to my phone via the companion app, and the reminders are cleared as soon as I confirm that I have taken the medication.
- History log: The system maintains a history of all the medications I have taken, providing me with a record of my medication usage.
- Retroactive entry: I can also add medications I have taken in the past using the user interface (UI).
- Custom medication support: The system allows me to add custom medications that are not pre-configured using an input_text.
- CSV file generation: The system automatically creates a CSV file that can be used for further processing or analysis.
Although this system was initially created for my personal use, it has proven to be incredibly helpful. While it is not perfect and may not meet everyone’s needs, I wanted to share it with others who might find it beneficial.
It’s important to note that not all features are necessary for everyone. Therefore, I will explain the system step by step:
Automations: Currently, there are two methods I use for automation.
-
Method 1: This method requires more effort, but it allows me to create easy buttons for the Lovelace interface and set up individual reminders for each medication. However, it requires a new automation for each medication.
-
Method 2: This method is used for my supplements and is implemented in a cleaner way. However, it does not support the creation of buttons in the UI (as it works with trigger_ids, which are not compatible with UI buttons). Implementing reminders with this method would require some additional work. Instead, I use a dropdown list in the UI for supplement tracking.
Method 1 - Automation for each medication:
Here are the steps to follow when adding a new medication:
- Use the companion app to add an NFC tag for the medication.
- Create a new copy of the automation and modify it according to the specific medication:
- Replace the trigger with the NFC tag that was just created.
- Replace the placeholder “NAME” with the actual name of the medication three times in the automation.
- Add a button to the Lovelace interface for easy access to the medication.
Automation:
alias: Tool NFC Tag Medi NAME
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: tag
tag_id: ec902a2b-9b88-498d-b1a2-06e560abb392
enabled: true
condition: []
action:
#WRITING .csv FILE
- service: notify.file_medis
data:
message: >-
{{ '{:.6f}'.format((now().timestamp() -
(states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") | float) * 3600)) }};{{
(now().timestamp() - (states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") |
float) * 3600) | timestamp_custom('%Y.%m.%d;%H:%M', 1, default=1)
}};Medi;NAME;
#RESET TIME WHEN USING ADDING MEDS FROM THE PAST
- service: input_number.set_value
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours
# WRITE TO HISTORY HELPER
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: ''
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: "Medi: NAME"
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
mode: single
This system requires the following helper entities to be set up:
- TEXT - Name: Tool Medi History - entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
- NUMBER - Name: Tool Medi Adjust Hours - entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours - max_value: 96 - display mode: slider
Method 2 - Single automation for all supplements:
Here are the steps to follow when adding a new supplement:
- Use the companion app to add an NFC tag for the supplement.
- Add the supplement to the dropdown list. The easiest way to do this is by clicking on the icon of the dropdown list and accessing its settings.
- If you’re using NFC for the supplement (I don’t use it for ones I take rarely), add a new trigger to the automation and set the trigger_id with its NAME.
Automation:
alias: Tool NFC Supl General [ALL]
description: ""
trigger:
# TRIGGER FOR THE UI
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_button.tool_supl_run_automation
id: button
#NFC TRIGGERS
- platform: tag
tag_id: 1d3345bf-b4d7-49e7-b4a4
id: NAME1
- platform: tag
tag_id: asdfasdf-b4d7-49e7-b4a5
id: NAME2
- platform: tag
tag_id: fgdhdfghfdg-b4d7-49e7-b4a6
id: NAME3
- platform: tag
tag_id: ghjkghjkghj-b4d7-49e7-b4a7
id: NAME4
condition: []
action:
#WRITING .csv FILE
- service: notify.file_medis
data:
message: >-
{{ '{:.6f}'.format((now().timestamp() -
(states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") | float) * 3600)) }};{{
(now().timestamp() - (states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") |
float) * 3600) | timestamp_custom('%Y.%m.%d;%H:%M', 1, default=1)
}};Supl;{{ trigger.id if (trigger.id != "button") else
states("input_select.tool_nfc_supl_list") }};
#RESET TIME WHEN USING ADDING MEDS FROM THE PAST
- service: input_number.set_value
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours
# WRITE TO HISTORY HELPER
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: ''
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: >-
Supl: {{ trigger.id if (trigger.id != "button") else
states("input_select.tool_nfc_supl_list") }}
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
mode: single
This system requires the following helper entities to be set up:
- DROPDOWN - Name: Tool NFC Supl List - entity_id: input_select.tool_nfc_supl_list - Options: [add items to your list]
- BUTTON - name: Tool Supl Button Run Automation - entity_id: input_button.tool_supl_run_automation - icon: mdi:pill
already used in method 1:
- TEXT - Name: Tool Med History - entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
- NUMBER - Name: Tool Medi Adjust Hours - entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours - max_value: 96 - display mode: slider
The .csv file (for both methods):
This needs a entry in configuration.yaml (not possible via UI)
notify:
- name: file_medis
platform: file
filename: /config/medication_history.csv
Lovelace:
For method 1: Buttons. Replace NAMEx
show_name: true
show_icon: true
show_state: false
type: glance
entities:
- entity: automation.tool_nfc_tag_medi_NAME1
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: automation.trigger
target:
entity_id: automation.tool_nfc_tag_medi_NAME1
data:
skip_condition: true
icon: mdi:pill
name: NAME1
- entity: automation.tool_nfc_tag_medi_NAME2
tap_action:
action: call-service
service: automation.trigger
target:
entity_id: automation.tool_nfc_tag_medi_NAME2
data:
skip_condition: true
icon: mdi:pill
name: NAME2
For method 2: dropdown list
For method 1 and 2: adjust time
For optional features: notes and custom meds
type: entities
entities:
- entity: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours
- entity: input_text.tool_medi_note_create
- entity: input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi
- entity: input_select.tool_nfc_supl_list
- entity: input_button.tool_supl_run_automation
name: Save supplement
History (needs custom card “home-feed-card”, add it via HACS):
entities:
- entity: input_text.tool_med_history
exclude_states:
- ''
- unknown
- unavailable
remove_repeats: false
include_history: true
max_history: 12
name: ''
content_template: '{{state}}'
- entity: input_text.tool_medi_note_create
exclude_states:
- ''
- unknown
- unavailable
- saved
remove_repeats: false
include_history: true
max_history: 12
name: ''
content_template: '{{state}}'
more_info_on_tap: false
max_item_count: 12
history_days_back: 12
compact_mode: true
exact_durations: true
show_notification_title: false
type: custom:home-feed-card
show_icons: false
card_id: medhistory
Optional additional features:
Simple reminder sent to the phone companion app:
The system is set up to send reminders for medications twice a day (indicated by the “/ 2” below), and it sends additional notifications every 2 hours 2 more times. Once the NFC tag is scanned, the notification is automatically cleared on the phone.
Please feel free to adjust this setup according to your specific needs. You can create copies of the reminder for different medications or just “add them together”.
- Automation (sends the notification):
alias: Tool Med Reminder
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: time
at: "8:00:00"
- platform: time
at: "10:00:00"
- platform: time
at: "12:00:00"
- platform: time
at: "18:00:00"
- platform: time
at: "20:00:00"
- platform: time
at: "22:00:00"
condition:
- condition: or
conditions:
- condition: and
conditions:
- condition: numeric_state
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder
below: input_number.tool_medi_number_to_reach_for_reminder
above: 0
- condition: time
after: "20:00:00"
- >-
{{ (states("input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder")|int) <
((states("input_number.tool_medi_number_to_reach_for_reminder")|int) / 2) }}
action:
- service: notify.mobile_app_phone_main
data:
message: Med Reminder
title: Med Reminder
data:
tag: medreminder
timeout: 7200
channel: medreminder
mode: single
- And reset it daily:
alias: Tool Reset MediReminder at 4
description: Helper automation to reset Reminder for taking Meds Daily at 4
trigger:
- platform: time
at: "04:00:00"
condition: []
action:
- service: input_number.set_value
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder
mode: single
- Add this to the automation from method 1 you’re setting up (increase the helper after med is taken, and clear the notification on the phone):
- service: notify.mobile_app_phone_main
data:
data:
tag: medreminder
channel: medreminder
message: clear_notification
- service: input_number.increment
data: {}
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder
This needs the following helpers:
- NUMBER - name: Tool Medi Counter_per_Day for Reminder - entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder
- NUMBER - name: Tool Medi Number_to_Reach for Reminder - entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_number_to_reach_for_reminder
Lovelace:
type: entities
entities:
- entity: input_number.tool_medi_counter_per_day_for_reminder
name: Counter
secondary_info: last-changed
- entity: input_number.tool_medi_number_to_reach_for_reminder
name: Target
secondary_info: last-changed
title: 'Reminder Med 1: NAME1'
Add custom (not listed) medications:
Automation:
alias: Tool Medi Add Custom Medi
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi
condition: []
action:
- service: notify.file_medis
data:
message: >-
{{ '{:.6f}'.format(now().timestamp() -
(states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") | float) * 3600) }};{{
(now().timestamp() - (states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") |
float) * 3600) | timestamp_custom('%Y.%m.%d;%H:%M', 1, default=1)
}};Medi;Custom:{{ (states('input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi') |
replace(";", "/",1)) }};
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: >-
Medi-Custom: {{ (states('input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi') |
replace(";", "/",1)) }}
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_med_history
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: added
target:
entity_id:
- input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi
- delay:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 5
milliseconds: 0
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: ""
target:
entity_id:
- input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi
- service: input_number.set_value
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours
mode: single
max_exceeded: silent
This system requires the following helper entities to be set up:
- TEXT - Name: Tool Medi Add Custom Medi - entity_id: input_text.tool_medi_add_custom_medi
Add custom notes (similar to the custom medication):
Automation:
alias: Tool Medi Add Note
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: state
entity_id:
- input_text.tool_medi_note_create
condition: []
action:
- service: notify.file_medis
data:
message: >-
{{ "{:.6f}".format((now().timestamp() -
(states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") | float) * 3600)) }};{{
((now().timestamp() - (states("input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours") |
float) * 3600) | timestamp_custom("%Y.%m.%d;%H:%M", 1, default=1))
}};Note;{{ (states('input_text.tool_medi_note_create') | replace(";",
"/",1)) }}
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: saved
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_medi_note_create
- delay:
hours: 0
minutes: 0
seconds: 5
milliseconds: 0
- service: input_text.set_value
data:
value: ""
target:
entity_id: input_text.tool_medi_note_create
- service: input_number.set_value
data:
value: 0
target:
entity_id: input_number.tool_medi_adjust_hours
mode: single
max_exceeded: silent
This system requires the following helper entities to be set up:
- TEXT - name: Tool_Medi_Note_Create - entity_id: input_text.tool_medi_note_create
Backup the .csv file twice a week:
Automation:
alias: Tool Medi Backup File
description: ""
trigger:
- platform: time
at: "05:00:00"
condition:
- condition: time
weekday:
- sun
- wed
action:
- service: shell_command.backup_med_list_csv
data: {}
mode: single
configuration.yaml:
shell_command:
backup_med_list_csv: "cp /config/medication_history.csv /config/medication_history.backup.{{ now().timestamp() | timestamp_custom('%Y%m%d', 1, default=1) }}.csv"
I hope this helps someone. Improvements are welcome! 
