AI Agents for Senior Living

​By Taranjeet Singh

The global senior living market is projected to expand by $130.9 billion between 2025 and 2029. This is due to the aging baby boomer population.

In short, this data is alarming and underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve the quality of care for seniors. The only viable solution that can aid in this situation is artificial intelligence (AI) agents. They offer personalized care and improved resident engagement.​

AI Agents Are Transforming Senior Care

AI agents are software systems that utilize machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to perform tasks traditionally requiring human intelligence.

In the context of senior living, these agents assist in various domains, including health monitoring, administrative tasks, and social engagement.​

Real Results, Real Impact

One of the most significant applications of AI agents in senior living is health monitoring. For instance, Maplewood Senior Living has implemented AI-powered machine vision systems in memory care units.

Due to this, they have achieved remarkable results, which are as follows:​

• A close watch on falling: 100% of falls are now witnessed, a substantial increase from previous rates.​The Senior Living Innovation Forum Blog

• Reduced incident time: Median response time to incidents has decreased to 90 seconds. On the contrary, the industry average is 20 minutes.​
  

Powerful Efficiency and Staff Support

Charley Sankovich, vice president of information technology, states that "AI is creating several significant opportunities for senior living, aimed at improving the quality of life, enhancing care, and optimizing operational efficiency."

Leaving aside direct patient care, AI agents can streamline administrative processes. They reduce the workload on staff and allow them to focus more on resident interaction.

For example, AI can automate tasks such as rent roll analysis, dataset analysis, and document reviews. As a matter of fact, performing these functions up to 80% faster than human counterparts.

The same report mentions that the support agents utilizing AI have demonstrated a 14% increase in tasks handled per hour, which is an exceptional number.

Brian Geyser, VP of Enterprise Intelligence at Maplewood Senior Living, envisions a future where AI agents are integral to organizational structures. He states,​ "We're all going to be managers of AI agents. We'll have AI agents on our org charts, and we'll be managing them."

Social Engagement and Companionship

AI agents have reliable powers to combat social isolation among seniors. Conversational AI tools provide personalized support and companionship. Hence, it becomes easy to address the challenges faced by isolated older adults.

A 2018 report by the Center for the Governance of AI highlighted that 38% of individuals aged 55-64 express concerns about machines making ethical decisions. On the contrary, 25% are in the 25-34 age bracket.

Additionally, an August 2021 survey by Foresight 50+ Omnibus found that only 17% of adults aged 50 and older are very familiar with AI.

Meanwhile, 71% feel uncomfortable with AI-driven cars, and about half are uneasy with AI providing hiring recommendations, financial advice, or diagnosing medical issues.

Market Adoption

A report by AgeInPlaceTech indicates that 82% of companies in the sector are either using or exploring AI applications. This shows a strong industry trend toward technological integration.

Furthermore, the senior living market is projected to grow by $130.9 billion between 2025 and 2029. The developments are happening with the assistance of AI. ​

Challenges That Require Attention

Undoubtedly, AI offers powerful advantages. However, everything has two sides; therefore, let's address the potential challenges posed by it:​

• Privacy and Security: Ensuring the protection of sensitive health data is paramount.​

• Ethical Use: Maintaining a balance between AI assistance and human interaction to preserve the human touch in care.

• Training and Adaptation: Equipping staff with the skills to work effectively alongside AI systems.
  

Some roadblocks hinder the implementation of AI in the senior care industry; however, with time, all these implications will be taken care of.

Final Words

AI is a technology that needs time to adjust to the human world. As of now, senior people prefer a human touch while taking care of them. They hesitate when there is a machine looking after them. The reasons can be that they are unable to understand the equipment or need training to operate it. As time passes, slowly and steadily, AI is making its place in the hearts of the elderly, which is a positive thing.