The aging population in America is around 58 million, according to the 2020 Census, and is still growing. Most elderly have declined health, little to no mobility, and often have no one to meet their healthcare needs. According to the National Institute of Health, more than 35% of elderly people have mobility limitations, and only 41 million out of the 55 million have someone to provide for their healthcare needs.
This is because the Census states that 16.5% of people ages 55 above have no children that they can rely on for help. Additionally, more that 90% of adults would much rather stay in their own homes as they grow older, according to University of Southern California.
Needless to say, assisted living by use of robots and AI would fulfill a huge need in society. With the revolutionary advancements in AI and robotics, having assisted living using this technology might just be possible quite soon. With declining birth rates in many developed countries, the best solution is for AI and technology to fill the need of a caregiver for the elderly and also from the comfort of their own home.
The obvious benefits of AI and robots include help that can be available every day, at any time, because AI and Robots do not get tired. Such an example is the hospital robot Moxi, which is already helping our hospitals by running supplies, getting lab samples, and distributing medication. This allows more nurses to work with patients that need emergency medical help and allows the robots to take care of the patients that do not need as much attention.
Robots can also help elderly people who need someone to talk to, as research at the University of British Colombia has shown that social robots have already been tested in places such as Canada and Japan. There has been positive feedback, showing that these robots and other social robots have helped patients with dementia and are curing loneliness, especially when elderly live alone at home.
Robots can also help elderly and special needs people with daily tasks, such as cleaning, meal prepping, as well as helping one get in and out of the house. As reported in Stanford’s 100 Year study of AI, robots can already move and manipulate objects that meet the standard for industrial use, showing the potential for physical home assistance.
Another example is Boston Dynamics humanoid robot, that can do tasks such as jumping, running, and moving in uneven terrain. With these capabilities, robot humanoids can navigate around the home and assist by helping the elderly get food, water, and other daily care needs. Many people predict that in the next 10 years, we will have humanoid robots that are available to the public for these types of tasks.
The drawbacks of AI and robot assistants are the high costs in producing these robots. For example, Tesla’s new robot humanoid is said to be less than $20,000, but this is still not a cheap price tag for something similar to a home appliance, and most robots cost thousands of dollars more, which could pose a problem for people to afford, especially elderly who may not have that many financial resources.
Additionally, there are concerns over the ability for the elderly to use them. For example, The Pew Research Center found out that nearly 45% of all elderly do not use the internet or any type of technology, so being introduced to a robot may pose a challenge for them. But as time goes on and technology advances, prices will definitely go down as more revolutionary technology allows AI and robotics to be more reliable and efficient as well as affordable.
Despite these concerns, the positives of robots and AI in the household is far more beneficial than the disadvantages, and the use of robots can greatly improve life quality for the elderly and make the last years of their lives more enjoyable. The technological advancements hold much promise in filling a growing need in human society.
