Introduction
Holding hands, aging is meaningful. We focus on the elderly as our target users, delving into the elderly care sector, helping to build a service system for elderly care, and striving to create a high-quality information hub for elderly care in China—“Elderly Care is Interesting”.
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Cooking, laundry, garbage disposal, gardening, haircuts, and companionship… when you grow old, the ones doing these tasks for you will no longer be your children, partners, or caregivers, but robots. Would you be intrigued? In the 2012 sci-fi film “Robot & Frank,” we see an imaginative answer: a robot becomes a capable assistant to Frank, an elderly man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. From rejection to acceptance, and then to reliance, a deep emotional bond is established between Frank and the robot. Today, these once seemingly unattainable scenarios are gradually becoming a reality.
Robots in Elderly Care: From Movies to Reality
In Shanghai, with the official release of the “Shanghai Action Plan for Promoting Technological Innovation in Elderly Care (2024-2027),” keywords like “rehabilitation robots,” “exoskeleton robots,” and “nursing robots” have become hot topics of discussion. These robots not only provide tangible assistance to the elderly in daily life but also play a significant role in rehabilitation training and emotional companionship. Their emergence undoubtedly offers new possibilities for addressing the shortage of elderly care personnel and improving the quality and efficiency of elderly care services. Not just in Shanghai, communities across the country are actively exploring new models of robotic elderly care. Reports indicate that in a community in Hangzhou, a robotic dog named “Xiao Xi” has become a close companion for the elderly. Every day, it delivers medication to the elderly on time and accompanies those with mobility issues for walks and conversations. The presence of Xiao Xi has brought unprecedented warmth and companionship to the elderly.
On February 24, at a nursing home in Hangzhou, the robotic dog “Xiao Xi” interacted with the elderly through voice (Image source: China News Service, reporter Wu Junyi) In Norway, a robot named NEO Gamma has also made a remarkable impression. It can not only clean rooms and remind the elderly to take their medication but also engage in simple conversations, acting like a caring housekeeper. A nursing home in Shenzhen has introduced a robot named “Xiao Wu.” This robot is equipped with 180 sensors that can monitor the elderly’s physical condition in real-time. When an elderly person falls, it can quickly respond and help them up safely.
(Image source: Southern Daily, reporter Zhu Hongbo) “I am ready; let’s play chess together!” At a nursing home in Shenzhen, the opening line of an AI chess robot made the elderly laugh. Chess enthusiast Uncle Yan excitedly said after several rounds of play, “This is really interesting! Although I lost the game, I learned a lot of new strategies; I will come back to challenge again tomorrow.” Uncle Yan also mentioned that the robot follows the rules, answers questions professionally, and can help arrange remote matches with chess friends, combining a sense of technology with warmth, making it very popular among the elderly.
(Image source: Shenzhen Special Zone Daily, provided by interviewee) Additionally, Huawei’s smart wristband has also attracted attention. This wristband can monitor the elderly’s blood pressure and heart rate 24 hours a day, and once it detects abnormalities, it will immediately notify family members.
What Kind of Robots are Most Suitable for Elderly Care?
Faced with so many elderly care robots, we can’t help but ask: what kind of robots are most suitable for elderly care? Experts suggest that future elderly care robots should focus on two main aspects: “First, addressing the unfriendly environment for the elderly, and second, paying attention to the physical condition of the elderly.” In addressing the unfriendly environment, robots can create a safer and more comfortable living environment for the elderly through intelligent recognition technology. “For example, using smart locks, surveillance cameras, and other devices to ensure the safety of the elderly at home; using smart lighting and temperature control systems to improve the quality of life for the elderly.” In terms of monitoring the physical condition of the elderly, robots need to have more precise and comprehensive health monitoring capabilities. “They can use sensors to monitor the elderly’s blood pressure, blood sugar, heart rate, and other physiological indicators in real-time, promptly detecting abnormalities and notifying family members or medical staff. Additionally, robots can assist the elderly in maintaining their health through rehabilitation training and exercise guidance.”
Can You Accept a Life of Companionship with AI Robots in Your Old Age?
Faced with these powerful elderly care robots, people’s attitudes vary. Reporters interviewed several middle-aged and elderly individuals to hear their thoughts. Ms. Duan’s mother suffers from a serious illness and requires long-term bed rest. Ms. Duan told reporters, “I have to go to the hospital frequently; every task like turning her over, wiping her down, and administering medication is exhausting. Especially at night, I can hardly sleep.” At this point, Ms. Duan’s eyes welled up. She expressed, “I really hope there is a robot that can help me, even if we take turns watching over her at night, I would be happy!” If she were to grow old, would she be willing to have a robot accompany her? “Of course, I don’t want to become a burden to my children,” Ms. Duan stated. However, not everyone shares Ms. Duan’s enthusiasm for the arrival of robots. Ms. Sun holds a more reserved attitude. She believes, “Robots are ultimately created by humans; they only operate according to the code written by humans.” Based on this characteristic, Ms. Sun believes that robots cannot develop independent consciousness and therefore cannot replace humans in meeting the emotional needs of the elderly. She stated: “I cannot accept this way of elderly care; if my children are unwilling to accompany me, I would rather live in a nursing home than live with a cold robot.” “Work can be replaced, but familial affection cannot. Robots can help with some caregiving tasks, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need my children’s care and companionship.” Mr. Han told reporters that he can accept a life of companionship with robots in his old age, but he cannot accept a life that is solely accompanied by robots. Netizens have also shared their answers to this question. Netizen @momo: “This is the future for DINK families, just wait and see!” Netizen @YumenGuan: “I will wait until caregiver robots are more mature before I grow old!” Netizen @A Xuan: “Don’t worry about the elderly being treated differently, because robots have no bias.” Netizen @AmazingMe: “Instead of worrying about whether to use them, shouldn’t we be more concerned about whether we can afford them?” A life of companionship with AI may not be far off. As the robotic elderly care model gradually becomes popular, the issue of affordability has also become a focal point for many.
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Source: Dahe Daily · Yu Video reporter Han Yiting
Editor: Zhai Yujie
Proofreader: Zheng JinDuty Director:Zhong YuqinReview: Shi Yinan