Can Robotics Transform Senior Care?

By Taranjeet Singh

Implementing robotic solutions in elder care involves substantial investment. In the U.S., the average annual cost of a care robot is approximately $85,000.

In contrast, hiring a full-time human caregiver averages around $75,000 per year.

However, robots offer the advantage of 24/7 availability without the need for breaks, which reduces the long-term need for multiple caregivers.

It's important to note that while robots can assist with physical tasks, they may not provide the same level of emotional support as human caregivers.

Enhancing Daily Living and Promoting Independence

Robots equipped with AI can significantly aid seniors in daily tasks, fostering independence. For example, AIREC, a humanoid robot developed in Japan, can assist with repositioning patients, cooking, and folding laundry. Such functionalities are particularly beneficial in societies facing caregiver shortages.

Professor Shigeki Sugano of Waseda University, leading the AIREC project, emphasizes the role of robots in supporting the elderly, stating, "Given our highly advanced ageing society and declining births, we will be needing robots' support for medical and elderly care."

Addressing Caregiver Shortages

The demand for caregivers often exceeds supply, which leads to workforce shortages. As per the reports, there is a shortfall of 151,000 paid direct care workers and 3.8 million unpaid family caregivers by 2030. This gap will widen by 2040.

At this moment, robots can mitigate this shortage by assisting with tasks such as patient mobility and health monitoring, thereby supporting the existing workforce and enhancing care delivery. ​

Improving Mental Health through Social Interaction

Beyond physical assistance, robots can address social isolation among seniors. Studies have shown that interaction with social robots can improve mental health and reduce feelings of loneliness.

For instance, research involving the robot Paro demonstrated positive effects on the cognition and emotional well-being of elderly participants. Additionally, a survey by Carewell found that 78% of seniors over 55 use AI-powered bots like ChatGPT, Alexa, and Google Assistant for companionship and daily tasks. Due to this, 80% have reported excellent mental health, and 53% rarely feel isolated.

Expert Perspectives on Robotics in Senior Care

Experts acknowledge the potential of robots to transform senior care. Professor Tamim Asfour of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology highlights, "If robots can support elderly people at home, fewer of them will need to go into a retirement or nursing home. And if they do, robots can help the nursing staff."  

By integrating AI-driven robotics into senior care, researchers aim to enhance independence while alleviating some of the burdens on caregivers and healthcare providers, said Philip Cola, professor at both the Weatherhead School and the School of Medicine.

He further stated, “As cognitive decline progresses, consistent support and companionship become critical”.

Additionally, he conveyed, “Our goal is to explore how AI and robotics can create sustainable caregiving solutions that empower individuals while improving overall care management. This isn’t about treating Alzheimer’s disease—it’s about the management of healthcare.”

Various Challenges

Integrating robots into senior care is not without challenges. Nurses have reported that while care robots are useful, they have limited capabilities. They are unable to manage increased workload, which can negatively impact the quality of care.

Addressing these concerns requires thoughtful implementation and continuous evaluation.

Additionally, ethical considerations, such as ensuring autonomy, safety, and dignity for elderly users, are paramount.

Conclusion

The elderly require care which they can receive from robots 24/7. However, everything comes at a cost! There will be data privacy issues, wear and tear of mechanical equipment, unable to understand the task by AI and many more. 

This industry is witnessing ongoing research, collaboration among stakeholders, and user-centered design so that robotic solutions meet the needs of the elderly.