Technology is more present than ever in our daily lives. Today, there are even robots capable of accompanying and assisting older adults.
Juan Camilo Álvarez, a member of ACOGER Gerontological Community , spoke about this. This organization focuses on connecting professionals, businesses, institutions, volunteers, and families to benefit older adults.
“The topic of robotics is back in the spotlight. Two very clear examples are Zora, the robot that cares for and entertains seniors; and Mabu, the robot that cares for patients at home. It's now quite common to see these types of situations,” he noted.
Juan Camilo participated in the webinar "Digital Transformation for the Lives of Older Adults," a meeting organized by Theramart and ACOGER , which also included Catalina Zapata and Juan David Holguín, also members of this organization.
Zora Care Robot: Interact and Entertain
It began as an experimental test in France, related to elderly care. The results were revealing: adults developed an emotional bond with the robot , holding it, cuddling it, and kissing it on the head.
Zora, developed by a Belgian company, has also been used in special schools and rehabilitation centers , with the same effect: creating an emotional bond between person and machine. But most importantly, the robot made a difference in the lives of others.
Small in size and user-friendly in design, the robot is operated by an external person , who controls its movements and dialogues via a computer. This allows for personalized interaction with others.
With groups of older adults, for example, you can guide them through low-impact exercises (moving their legs, stretching their arms, lifting objects, etc.) and suggest games to encourage interaction.
However, this type of technology continues to divide opinions, between those who consider it mere entertainment and those who believe the robot can actually help improve the quality of life of others.
“ Patients have told the robot things about their health that they don’t share with doctors . One woman with bruises on her arms hadn’t told hospital staff what had happened, but she confessed to Zora that she had fallen out of bed while sleeping,” The New York Times reported.
Mabu Care Robot: assisting at home
It's a 15-inch yellow robot with large, round, winking eyes. This innovation, developed by the American firm Catalia Health, has several added benefits.
For example, it is able to memorize each patient's medical treatment, remind them when it's time to take their medication, and even keep track of their mood .
“Unlike other apps, which are generally used for a short period of time, patients tend to continue using Mabu as their caregiver. This, in turn, allows the robot to chat with them daily to monitor their treatment and gather information on their progress,” reads the Catalia Health website .
Want to see how he does it? Click here:
In addition, all information shared by the patient with the robot is stored and shared in real time with an online storage service that can be accessed by the patient's personal physician.
In fact, Mabu was successfully used in 2018 to help patients with congestive heart failure in the United States, supported by the American Heart Association.
The robot tracked the patient's medications and activity level, a formula its creators are already developing for use in cases of advanced kidney cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.
We know you're not a robot and that caring for a dependent senior is a huge job. Here we share these KEY POINTS FOR A CAREGIVER: WHAT TO DO WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER'S LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS?
Technology to assist, not to replace
Zora and Mabu are just two examples of how technology has changed the way we care for older adults. In the coming years, more and more alternatives will come onto the market.
However, as Juan Camilo Álvarez pointed out during his participation in the ACOGER and Theramart webinar, nothing can replace human care.
“Obviously, this needs to be handled very delicately. Leaving the care of our loved ones to a robot can serve many tasks, but we're not going to centralize everything there . We also need to manage the human aspect.”
"Humanization cannot be left aside. This is fundamental: the treatment, the closeness, that is irreplaceable."
What do you think? Do you think a caregiver could be replaced with a robot, or could it just be an assistive accessory? Tell us.
