Support bots that work in senior living facilities to help out the elderly have been around for a few years now. These bots can be essential for helping to take care of someone whether it’s bringing them a drink or monitoring their movement making sure they don’t fall. But recent studies in Japan have shown they serve an even greater purpose: robotic companions.
In 2016, the annual birth rate in Japan dropped below a million for the first time since 1889. A quarter of the country’s population is already reaching an older age. This means not enough able bodied people to work in these homes and not enough relatives to help look after the elderly. And when you don’t have much of your family to look after you, it can get pretty lonely. The elderly are often isolated increasing their risk of various ailments including cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. But these robotic companions alleviate some of these issues.
