ARE ROBOTS THE FUTURE OF ELDER CARE?
One in five Americans will be 65 or older by 2030 and “half of those over 85 require assistance in everyday activities,” according to Slate.
An eye-opening fact but even more alarming is the question of who will care for our aging population?
Joseph Engelberger, noted physicist, engineer and entrepreneur who is also known as the “Father of Robotics,” told BBC News that robots “should be able to do more. 200,000 elderly people fall and break a leg in the US each year. Human help is expensive.”
In attempt to meet this emerging need and with a reputation for developing new technologies, many Japanese companies have been working on developing robotic caregivers. According to BBC News, the Japanese government “has earmarked 7.6bn yen ($93 million) to get these more prosaic drones and lifters into Japanese homes, to commercialize simple home-use robots and to develop safety technologies and standards, which have been major issues” as part of a “Home-use Robot Practical Application Project.”
Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe, also interviewed by BBC News, wants to make robotics a core business of the company with the goal “to create robots that are useful for people in everyday life.”
Despite the numerous resources and monetary commitments, the use of robots as caregivers has met with limited success so far. Part of the problem has been the focus of Japanese robotics manufacturers to create “humanoid” robots, which made many senior citizens feel uneasy, especially Americans.
For a generation that may have been impressionable children during the great 1938 Orson Wells radio hoax, War of the Worlds, the idea of robots with human characteristics living in their homes can be a tad unnerving. As a generation who has also witnessed the transition from radios, corded “land-line” phones and hard cover books to high-definition televisions, smart phones and tablet computers, many seniors are struggling to keep up with the current technology, much less embrace cutting-edge technologies.
While robotic caregivers may become a reality one day soon but for now, you can catch a glimpse into a potential future of robotic care in the film, Robot & Frank. The 2012 summer movie tells the story of an aging man coping with, and eventually appreciating, the gift of a robot companion given to him by his concerned son. It may be awhile before senior citizens are comfortable with the concept of non-human nursing and companionship in real life.
If you or a family member is no longer able to live independently and you are interested in learning about assisted living services and facilities within California that offer digital access, services and training, please contact CalRegistry today.