Assistive Robots Designed for Elderly Care and Caregivers

Abstract

As per the World Population prospects (19th revision), in 2019 every 11th person (11% of the population) was aged 65 or older and by 2050 every 6th person (16% of the world population) will be aged 65 or older. This rapid growth in people aged 65 and above has and will continue to pose some health management concerns, especially in the elderly with chronic ailments. The need for care provision for the elderly has provoked an exploration of various solutions to address elderly care management. Non-pharmacological interventions that utilize technology, such as robotics, are solutions that have proven to prolong independence and delay the admission of elderly into assisted care facilities. This paper will explore the various types of robotic solutions that are currently available to offer elderly care. This study will look at robotic solutions that are humanoid, animal-like, and robots that do not resemble humans or animals and their applications in elderly care. The various applications of robotics and the respective types of robots utilized in the provision of care in elderly care will be discussed as well.