Clearly, loneliness has been a major problem for seniors during the pandemic in both their homes and also as residents in a facility. I recently read that robots are taking the place of human care providers, particularly in Japan. Is that where we are headed? I don’t think I want a robot caring for me in my old age. Can you provide a little more information on this? H.N.
Dear H.N.
You have asked a timely question as our population is aging with a prediction of too few care providers. By 2034, Americans age 65 and older will outnumber children under 18 years. By then, it is predicted we will have a shortage of 150,000 paid caregivers, according to a story in the New Yorker.
In an AARP report, Maja J. Matarić, a roboticist and computer science professor at the University of Southern California predicts a larger shortage, much sooner; a shortage of nearly 450,000 by 2025.
In 2017, the U.S. Surgeon General officially declared loneliness as an epidemic for all ages with 43 percent of Americans over 60 identifying themselves as lonely.
Loneliness is different from social isolation. Loneliness is subjective; it means how we feel because of the lack of contact. Social isolation is objective; it means not having sufficient contact with the outside world. We can count the number of people or contacts. Both have health consequences and are considered triggers that increase an inflammatory response heightening the risk of dementia, depression, high blood pressure and stroke.
Social isolation not only creates a human toll, it creates other costs. Nearly seven billion dollars is added to the total cost of Medicare because those who have been socially isolated arrive at hospitals sicker and stay longer, according to the New Yorker piece.
Let’s talk about Japan. It has an aging population with a declining birthrate, emerging as the world leader in robotics that care for older people. According to a Reuters report, Japan will have a 380,000 shortfall of care workers by 2025. In response, the Japanese government has been funding the development of eldercare robots.
There are pros and cons to using technology to alleviate loneliness among older adults. Some experts worry that robots will not provide adequate care. Others are concerned that they will be used as a way to ration care and that insisting on human company will be considered an indulgence.
An article in the World Economic Forum notes that high-tech solutions are not the answer to needs that are high-touch. Furthermore, the article states that people need care and support and not just a set of tasks; they need consistent companionship, warmth and human contact.
Tamaki Saito, a writer on social issues, expressed his concerns in the Japan Times. He is quoted as saying, Robots “can alleviate the burden on helpers and assist nursing care. However…there is a danger that the spirit of the care recipient will be devastated.”
There are advantages to robotic care as outlined by Bob Girling of Forbes. He writes about what robots can provide that humans cannot. For example, robots are reliable 24-hours a day and never get tired or frustrated. They can serve as a home assistant, can help people connect with distant family members and support the older person in daily tasks and logistics. In a group home, care robots can alleviate some of the manual tasks of caregivers which would give them more opportunity to socialize with residents. And for those with cognitive challenges, a care robot can provide ongoing engagement and mental stimulation which we know can slow cognitive decline.
So, the question is, do robots work? In 2018 the New York State Office for the Aging launched a pilot project called “Joy for All” with the distribution of a robotic cat Jenny to 60 older state residents. After one year, participants who received cat Jenny reported they felt less lonely.
Yet Hirohisa Hirukawa, director of Robot Innovation Research at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, reminds us of the possibility of psychological resistance to robots from those receiving care.
Despite the concerns, there is the argument that something is better than nothing. According to demographic predictions, nothing may be the alternative.
Next week, we’ll describe some of these robots and what they do. Their names are most interesting: ElliQ, Telenoid, Paro, Tombot, Stevie, Lovot, Pillo, Moflin, Robear, Zora, Care-O-Bot, Buddy and Qoobo.
Thank you, H.N., for asking a timely question. In the meantime, stay well and be kind to yourself and others.
Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging, employment and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulagingCommunity
