Robots are becoming more prevalent in the world, and one specific place they are becoming more common is in elderly care. What creations are out there? What can they do? Are they beneficial for elderly care? This presentation will provide you with the answers. #scichallenge2017

1. THE USE OF ROBOTICS
IN ELDERLY CARE
ELIZABETH SPOONER

2. Why is it important?
The population of elderly people in the world is increasing, so
high quality elderly care is becoming a necessity worldwide.
The unbalance of the elderly and the young causes the problem
of: who is going to look after all these people in need? There are
just not enough carers to look after all of the elderly people who
are in need of help.
That’s where robots come in, there are cases around the world
where robots have been proven to improve the quality of life of
elderly people in care homes.
Here are a few:

3. SAM
SAM is a robot concierge
developed by Luvozo to
help the elderly.
• Frequent and personalized
check-ins with residents
• Media and communications
portal for hands-free video and
calling
• Continuous and automated
environmental fall hazard
assessments
• On-demand non-emergency call
button response
• Tele-operated by trained off-site care
professionals at key times for natural
interactions and conversation
SAM Provides:

4. How does it work?

5. PARO
PARO is beneficial for
dementia patients, in
boosting their moral.
PARO is also proven to
alleviate symptoms of
anxiety and depression.
“a therapeutic companion robot,
designed to improve sociability
and communication between
patients and caregivers.”

6. PARO
PARO has two 23-bit
CPUs, which process
voice recognition and
imitate animal
behaviour.
5 different types of
censors allow PARO to
perceive people and the
environment, PARO can
respond to touch, light,
sound, temperature and
posture.
PARO can learn words,
remember voices and
understand many languages.

7. In Australia NAO robots are
used to assist patients with
dementia, the 58cm tall
robots assist with
rehabilitation by playing
games, conversing and
generally assisting patients.
Activities like Tai Chi
and a ball game where
the robot kicks the ball
towards the patient and
they roll it back really
help the patients feel
happier and more
comfortable.
NAO ROBOTS

8. NAO ROBOTS
Voice synthesis
Emotions
Embedded
with CPU
with Wi-Fi
LiPo battery
25 degrees
of freedom
Digital
camera
Voice
recognition
Swappable
head
Prehensile
hands
58 cm tall

9. Zora
Zora is a NAO robot
customized with new software
from Zora Bots, to work in
Senior Healthcare.
Belgian company
Zorabots designed
the Zora software
(running on a NAO
robot) to have the
personality and
behaviours of an 8-
year-old girl.

10. Zora has the ability to lead patients
in exercises, read them stories and
entertain the patients with her
dance moves.
Controlled via a tablet by health
professionals, Zora can also
lead a physical therapy class,
read out the TV programmes
for the day, the weather
forecasts and then local news.
"They love Zora," said Lonnie Steckler, the
centre's executive director. "They look
forward to Zora. She tells them stories and
sings and dances with them. The residents
hold her. They walk with her. She makes
eye contact with you. She finds your face
and looks up at you. Her movements are
very humanistic."

11. Conclusion
Robotics are becoming more involved in elderly care, and it is
obvious that the innovations being used are beneficial to the
patients and the workers.
However no matter how successful robots are in elderly care
human contact is still a large factor in the quality of the patient’s
lives and that should not be taken away.