NY State is Giving Robots to The Elderly

The program is being organized by the New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) in partnership with Intuition Robotics, an Israeli tech startup. Intuition Robotics’ central product is ElliQ, a robot “sidekick” tasked with preventing loneliness among the elderly. The voice-activated robot doesn’t perform physical tasks, but rather attempts to keep older adults in touch with their families and communities while monitoring basic wellness goals.

The NYSOFA will give out more than 800 ElliQ robots as part of its ongoing effort to “battle social isolation and support aging-in-place,” per the organization’s press release. Older adults—especially those who “age in place,” meaning they remain in their homes instead of going to a care home or assisted living community—have always been more at risk of isolation due to decreased mobility and the recent aging of the baby boomer generation. The first year or so of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated this problem, given widespread advisories to stay home and limit face-to-face interaction. And in the US, elderly adults are more likely to live alone than anywhere else in the world.

ElliQ aims to mitigate this issue by gently reminding its human companions to call their loved ones—something they can do using ElliQ itself. The aesthetically-pleasing tabletop robot looks almost like a lamp and sits on a flat base, to which a speaker and a simple tablet are also attached. Older adults can use the tablet to conduct video calls with family, send text and photo messages, and participate in exercise programs. ElliQ can also present companions with the news, the weather, music, games, and other information or entertainment options. The robot uses daily check-ins and regular assessments to help companions track their mental and physical health, then share that health information with trusted loved ones with the companion’s consent.

“Despite misconceptions and generalizations, older adults embrace new technology, especially when they see it is designed by older adults to meet their needs,” said NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen in the release. “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.”

NYSOFA case managers will determine eligibility for the ElliQ distribution program using a few criteria, like age, Wi-Fi access, and ease of socialization with those outside their homes. Once recipients are identified, Intuition Robotics will meet with them to provide installation and training.

“We’ve long believed that connecting older adults with local communities via ElliQ will add an important element in providing holistic support to older adults aging in place,” said Intuition Robotics co-founder and CEO Dor Skuler. “This partnership with NYSOFA helps us further that mission through an innovative initiative that we are incredibly proud to be part of.”

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