Do Robots Have a Place in Elder Care?
Companies are creating robots that can complete household and caregiver tasks, provide comfort in the shape of a cat, as well as call 9-1-1 in an emergency. But where do we draw the line?
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, more than five million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. In the absence of any medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or stop the disease, that number is predicted to rise to 13 million by 2025.
The last two generations have produced far fewer children than our grandparents’ generation. This translates into a lack of people who can provide care for our ever-growing aging population. Additionally, as people live longer they often need more care for a longer period than in the past. This includes nearly all elders; not just those with Alzheimer’s.
To ease this crunch, companies are experimenting with robots that can be programmed to complete several household and caregiving tasks, as well as call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Robotic pets: furry and functional: The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, where researchers identify and test new elder care technologies, has conducted a significant amount of analysis of animal-based therapy for aging adults.
“We tested two PARO robot pets for a pilot project at the Sunny View Care Center and Memory Care Unit in the San Francisco Bay Area,” says Davis Park, director of the Front Porch Center. “The purpose of the pilot is to gauge resident reaction…
Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this.” …Delores
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