What About That Human Touch?' Seniors Will Be Cared for by Robots to Solve Staff Shortage

A U.K. care provider will deploy robots in senior communities in September through a partnership with the University of Bedfordshire and Advinia Health Care, reports the Daily Express . The four-foot-tall "Pepper" robots have artificial intelligence called Caresses which is designed to interact with residents. The Peppers are equipped with tablets on their chests which residents can use to skype-call a relative, play games, videos, or music, or remind them when to take their medication. "These robots are able to adapt, learn, and tailor their conversations according to what they find out about an individual just as two people might do in a normal conversation," says Bedfordshire's Dr. Chris Papadopoulos. He notes the machines can learn about a person's cultural background and values and adapt accordingly. "The software is in this way groundbreaking," Papadopoulos says. "We want to explore to what extent they might prevent loneliness and isolation, improve mental health, and reduce family caregiver stress." Papadopoulos cautions that the robots are not intended to replace caregivers, but to "complement the team by increasing the workforce and allowing a robot to be present with someone who would otherwise be by themselves." Not everyone is pleased with this, with Judy Downey of the Relatives and Residents Association charity arguing, "The key to looking after someone is having a relationship in which you might notice if someone is upset after a phone call or if they look unwell. What matters is the smile, the human touch."