New York State Office for the Aging Will Deliver Robotic Care Companions to Seniors
On May 19, the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) announced via a press release that it is delivering voice-operated smart technology to 800 older adults’ homes. NYSOFA is increasing its efforts to battle social isolation with ElliQ by Israeli-based startup company Intuition Robotics. ElliQ, according to the release, is “the first-ever proactive and empathetic care companion.”
The release adds that “ElliQ is designed to foster independence and provide support for older adults through daily check-ins, assistance with wellness goals and physical activities, connection to family and friends, and more using voice commands and/or on-screen instructions. The technology, which recently launched commercially after years of pilots and early production deployments, has shown unprecedented engagement levels with older adults. Users have an average of 20 daily interactions.”
ElliQ was designed specifically for older adults to maintain independence in their homes. ElliQ is said to proactively suggest activities and open conversations, creating context through artificial intelligence (AI) for follow-up conversations that create “a sense of relationship with the AI.” Additionally, ElliQ offers sleep relaxation exercises, physical activity tasks, nutrition-related discussions, and medication reminders.
That said, “In 2017, the U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation to be a ‘global epidemic’—one that has only worsened in the COVID-19 health emergency. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, social isolation drives $6.7 billion in additional associated Medicare spending per year. The health consequences of loneliness and isolation are equivalent to smoking almost a pack of cigarettes daily. At a time when older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation, ElliQ offers another form of companionship, supplementing traditional, in-person support.”
NYSOFA director Greg Olsen was quoted in the release saying that “Despite misconceptions and generalizations, older adults embrace new technology, especially when they see it is designed by older adults to meet their needs. For those who experience some form of isolation and wish to age in place, ElliQ is a powerful complement to traditional forms of social interaction and support from professional or family caregivers.”
