Robots as Caregivers: Green Robotics Articles: Eco20/20

Robots as Caregivers

Caregivers are needed to help care for the elderly and aged in every country. Some countries are considering the use of robots to help care for the rising number of seniors in their communities.

Although it may sound like something from a science fiction novel or movie, with the recent advances in robotic technology it may be reality soon enough. With Japan's recent reveal of ASIMO, carebots, or fully functional robots, may soon replace humans in one more industry. This has recently become an issue because the population of seniors has soared while the number of caregivers has dropped.

Robots and the healthcare industry

Robots are not new to the healthcare industry. They have been used as diagnostic tools for years. Recently robots have replaced doctors in some surgical procedures. Another example of robotics in healthcare is the pacemaker. This device helps a patient's heart to beat properly. Up until now, however, humans have guided these machines in caring for patients.

The aging population demands care. Many young generations have fallen behind on the tradition of caring for their aged predecessors though. Robots that can be completely autonomous may be a good solution. The machines would allow the older population to live at home and help in four main ways: monitoring for emergencies such as heart attacks and blood glucose levels, interacting between patients and doctors, performing domestic tasks like laundry and cleaning, and bridging the gap in cognitive decline by reminding patients of medications. Unless the younger generation steps up to the task of caring for the elderly, robotics may be the best solution for the growing need for caregivers.

There are some tasks that robots are better for

Japan and Great Britain both have recently contemplated the idea. Robots are used in other industries to do tasks that humans will not do because of danger or tediousness. The car industry widely uses robots to build cars in mass production. Manufacturing and packaging plants use the machines to do work that typically would make a person fall asleep due to boredom. With the rising allegations of abuse to the elderly robots sounds like a reasonable solution. Since robots have no emotions they can perform daily tasks without becoming bored or frustrated. The concept still has a long road before it will be accepted widely around the world, but it is making progress. Right now it is only a suggestion. Technology will need to improve a little more first.

It really sounds like science fiction, but many things related to robotics that sounded like fantasy only a few decades ago are now science fact. Robots do tasks that people find dull and boring without complaint. Healthcare has implemented robots in many aspects; caring for the aging may be a new possibility soon for today's new robots. It does raise the question on how this group of patients will react though. Some of the older generations still fear these machines. Technology advances and changes but do people change and adapt as well? Time will tell soon enough since no one is getting any younger. One thing is certain; personal care is an important issue.

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