Robotic Elder Care?
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a robot that can be used to assist an elderly person by dialing 911, issuing medication reminders, grocery shopping, interact with family and caregivers and more:
It can also recognize an abnormal visual event, such as a fall, and notify a remote medical caregiver. Through an interface, the remote service provider may ask the client to speak, smile or raise both arms, movements that the robot can demonstrate. If the person is unresponsive, the robot can call 911, alert family and apply a digital stethoscope to a patient, conveying information to an emergency medical technician who is en route.
The system also tracks what isn’t human. If a delivery person leaves a package in a hallway, the sensor array is trained to notice when a path is blocked, and the robot can move the obstruction out of the way. It can also raise its outstretched arms, carry a load of about 2.2 pounds and has the potential to perform household tasks that require a fair amount of dexterity, including cleaning and grocery shopping.
I think this is fascinating and there’s certainly an application for this type of assistance, but in my own experience, the type of elder care that causes stress for families is the need for physical support with ambulation, activities of daily living, bathing, toileting, cooking and feeding.
If someone lives alone and can operate this type of device, then they might not be at the stage that depletes financial and emotional resources and this is where we need the changes in elder care.
But, it’s still nifty.
I’m with you. Fascinating, but I’m not sure how useful this would be with someone terrified of his or her own image in a mirror. For someone in good shape that wants a little backup, it may work. I think I’d find it creepy. But, go technology! There’s a lot of good stuff coming up.
Carol Bradley Bursack
Mindind Our Elders
The technology that is being developed to address the physical needs of the aging is remarkable. While I doubt that the robot will be soon in everyone’s house, I like the idea of a multi-purpose “assistant”. Maybe it will take off some of the heavy responsibilities we “sandwich generation” caregivers face.
There are already some amazing products out there. My Mom uses a large key computer keyboard. Now she can keep in touch with family via email without having someone assist her. We’ve also found a lot of personal assistive devices, like a dressing stick which allows her to dress herself without assistance. Keeping the sense of dignity strong within our parents is so important.
I hope that industries will continue to develop more and more products that will enrich not only our parents lives, but our lives …we will all be there someday.