Episode 64 - Caregiver Robots For The Elderly Are Here. What You Need To Know
Welcome. Today's lesson is caregiver robots for the elderly are here. What you need to know. Attention seniors and those who care for them. Did you know that by 2030 there will be a shortage of a million paid direct care workers in the US? Our present public health crisis already puts the burden of caring for older adults and disabled children, or family members and friends on the family caregiver.
Family caregivers provide over 600 billion dollars of unpaid care a year. These family members are providing this care at the cost of their own mental and physical and financial wellbeing. So I wanna tell you about an experiment at Norwood military retirement community. Hey, join the karaoke fund at the Norwood Military Retirement Community in northwest Washington DC. Retired US Army Colonel Phil Serrano 86 has hosted the singalong since they started during the snowstorm happy hour in 2016. Stevie, a sociable robot resident at Norwood will co-emcee the up and coming show with Serrano. He plans to sing Y M C A while Stevie leads the dance moves. But it's not easy as Stevie doesn't have elbows.
You can't make this stuff up. However, Serrano is more concerned with Stevie's comfort level, and the engineers are doing their best to make it a success. So don't miss the excitement in singing at Norwood. Stevie is a social robot and is teaming up with the Robotics and Innovation Lab at Trinity College, Dublin, and the nonprofit retirement home at Norwood to explore the future of eldercare with artificial intelligence. Alongside a group of Trinity researchers, Stevie will spend several months at Norwood to better understand how AI artificial intelligence can be developed to both aid elderly individuals and their human caretakers. Their goal is to find ways to address the growing demand for care as more Americans age and discover how robots will fill in the gaps for professional care.
At Norwood, a retirement community, over 300 senior citizens raging in age from 60 to 106 live in four different areas according to the level of care they require. Those older adults with greater physical or cognitive needs have a 24 hour elder care nursing care in a hospital style setting. Those in better health live in independent living apartments, enjoy the freedom to come and go as they please.
The independent Living week may remind you of a college dorm with decorated doors and bulletin boards filled with events. The residents have different levels of mobility, but you might see walkers and scooters and even decor reminiscent of the late Barbara Bush. One apartment door reads, Stevie. So let's meet Stevie, the socially assistive robot designed to engage with users both socially and physically. Equipped with autonomous navigation, Stevie can safely maneuver through hallways without assistance activated by the voice command. Hey, Stevie, the robot responds with speeches, gestures and head movements to fill user's needs. It's L E D Screen Face can display a sorrowful, frowned, or a smile depending on the command given Stevie's practicality extends beyond its own social abilities, its face can double as a video conferencing screen, make it easy for residents to video chat with doctors or family members.
And in the future, Stevie could potentially take meal orders with its touchscreen attachment. Stevie the robot has become a valued companion for residents of Norwood, our retirement community, originally designed to perform tasks such as making deliveries,
Stevie has surprised researchers by becoming a great companion and a source of entertainment and social interaction for residents. The robot's ability to recognize voice command, such as help me could be a lifesaver in an emergency, but it's the ability to make people laugh and smile. That has made Stevie such a hit with the community.
As robots become more widespread, it's becoming clear that they have the potential to provide companionship and social interaction that can be just as valuable as their practical abilities. Care homes and nursing homes can benefit greatly from having a robot like Stevie providing both practical assistance and social interactions in these care facilities for the residents.
In assisted living and nursing home care settings, there are various types of robots available to assist staff with their duties from exoskeletons to help lift patients safely to delivery robots that zip around like room service cards to doll like robots that provide comfort to those with cognitive decline.
Even at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, pharmacists have started using robotic dispensing systems to assist with filling prescriptions. When it comes to taking care of elderly people, robots may be of great help. These robots are designed with artificial intelligence, AI technology to provide companionship and assistance around the home.
They provide older people a combination of physical and emotional support that helps keep seniors safe and in independent. With their help, you can make sure your elderly family member gets the attention they need while still maintaining their independence. Caregiver robots come in all shapes and sizes from humanoid like machines to robotic vacuum cleaners. Some even have voice recognition so they can respond to commands or questions. In addition to providing assistance, these robots offer socialization for those living alone. This makes them an invaluable resource for those who may not have access to family or friends for human interaction. They can be programmed to identify unusual activity or change in daily activities and communicate that information to a family member or healthcare provider. Residents of Norwood have mixed reaction to Stevie the robot.
While some are fascinated by its construction and have been printing out articles to read in their apartments, there are also those who don't see the need for robot in their lives. However, we have a caregiver crisis in our country. The aging and elder care industry is facing an economic crisis to the ever-growing gap between demand for care and lack of available workers.
Robots like Stevie could be the solution as they can work around the clock without needing rest. Despite this, some healthcare professionals feel concerned by the technology as they see it as the way some will use these robots to replace working age adults, and that's a huge concern for me as well.
There's nothing that can replace human touch and human interaction. Neither Stevie's creators nor Norwoods' management want to replace human employees with robots. Okay? As a nurse that has dealt on both sides of the fence, business side and the caretaking side, money talks.
And if it's gonna financially be feasible to replace an employee with a robot, it's gonna happen, it's just inevitable. The reality's there. The goal is to distribute the workload of care robots in a way that benefits both the caregivers and those receiving care. If there were enough robots to handle the work, it could provide much needed relief for human caregivers who work long hours without breaks, the cost of Stevie's production is between 22000 and 33000, but it is expected that a retail version will be less expensive.
The Trinity team plans to sell monthly service contracts for the robot at 50 to 60% of the cost of hiring a human for the same job, making it a valuable and a cost effective investment. Again, it's all about the money. Let's talk about research and robots. Social robots or a type of caregiver robot designed specifically to interact with people.
These robots can converse, play games, and even remind seniors to take their medication. They provide an important source of comfort, companionship, and cognitive stimulation that might otherwise be lacking in a senior's life. They can improve the quality of life in many seniors. As technology continues to evolve, so do the possibilities for robots.
More advanced models are now available to remember faces and recognize emotions which can help them better respond to senior needs. Additionally, some models come equipped with sensors that detect falls or changes in temperatures, which enable them to act quickly and alert emergency services if necessary. In addition to providing assistance, there are many benefits associated with improved health and wellbeing when seniors are able to interact with a caregiver robot. Studies have found that these robots can reduce social isolation, encourage physical activity and provide a sense of purpose or daily routine for senior citizens. Robots are an incredible innovation that can make life easier for seniors and their families alike. With this technology, developing robots so that seniors can maintain their independence and wellness while still receiving the necessary care they need. Whether you're looking for companionship or assistance around the house, there's a robot out there to meet your needs.
Let's talk about the human touch. Human care workers and human relationships are essential for maintaining mental health and wellbeing. But when family or friends or healthcare professionals are not available, a caregiver robot can be a helpful tool in providing assistance and companionship. While the technology is still new, these robots are becoming increasingly advanced, offering unprecedented support to those in need most.
If you're considering adding a caregiver robot to your loved one's life, make sure you explore all the options available to ensure it meets your needs. The potential of caregiver robots in dementia is truly exciting. They could revolutionize how we care for our elderly loved ones and help them stay independent longer.
As technology advances, more sophisticated models becoming increasingly accessible, making this an important develop in senior care worth exploring. I wanna talk about Intuition robotics. Intuition Robotics is a company dedicated to developing socially assistive robots for the elderly, such as Ella Q.
These robots provide companionship and assistance to seniors while they remain independent with their help. Seniors can get personalized reminders about daily routines like medication or physical activity, and even interact with them using natural language processing.
Additionally, these robots are equipped with sensors that will detect falls or changes in temperatures. And in short, intuition Robotics is making it easier for seniors to enjoy life without sacrificing their independence. Something we should all strive towards. One thing for sure is the next decade will show the outside world if technology and elder care communities works, and if it will help or make more work for human caregivers. I'm Diane Carbo, and this was brought to you by caregiver Relief.
