A solution is proposed for dispensing substances to be taken by a user. A corresponding dispensing device comprises a memory for storing an indication of a taking plan of a plurality of doses of one or more substances, the taking plan comprising an indication of a taking time of each dose, a plurality of compartments each one for containing one of the doses, a signaling unit for providing a taking notice of each dose in response to the corresponding taking time, a pushbutton for releasing the dose corresponding to each taking notice from the corresponding compartment in response to a releasing command; the dispensing device comprises a plate having a collecting surface in a central zone thereof, the compartments being arranged in a peripheral zone of the plate and the pushbutton facing towards the central zone of the plate for collecting the doses released thereby onto the collecting surface. An assistance system is also proposed for facilitating the taking of substances by a user, the system comprising this dispensing device and a processing device of a person in charge of the dispenser device adapted to communicate with each other.