This document discusses the potential for robots to act as caregivers for dementia patients. It notes that dementia affects millions in the US and costs over $200 billion per year to care for patients, with most care provided unpaid by family. Three robots are highlighted that have been developed in Japan and the Netherlands to assist the elderly with daily tasks like finding items, grocery shopping, and medication reminders. The document concludes that care robots could help solve the problem of family members needing to sacrifice to care for aging relatives by providing companionship, security, assistance with activities of daily living, and emergency communication.

1. Can Robots Act as Caregivers to
Dementia Patients?

2. By Hypatia Gutierrez
Prepared for HUMU-250:Digital Humanities
Instructor: Dr. Borrego

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Dementia is not a specific disease.
It affects thinking skills and causes
severe memory loss.
Although it most commonly affects ages
over 65, it is not a normal part of aging.
Alzheimer’s Disease accounts for 60 to
80 percent of all Dementia cases.

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There are 5.2 million Alzheimer’s patients in
the United States alone.
The cost of caring for dementia patients was
estimated at $203 billion in June 2013.
The most common caregiver for dementia
patients a family members.

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In 2012, more that 15 million people
acted as caregivers for Alzheimer’s
patients.
That is an estimated 17 billion hours of
unpaid care…
Which translates to approximately $216
billion worth of care.

6. We could replace all the unpaid caregivers with robots?

8. Tokyo, Japan (2008)

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Developed by the University of Tokyo
It was designed to assist the elderly in
Daily Tasks
The eyes are actually wide-angle camera
lenses
It uses image recognition software to
help locate lost items

10. Mamoru is capable of providing reminders
and recognizes when a patient has already
taken medication.

11. Kyoto, Japan (2009)

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Developed by the Advanced
Telecommunications Research Institude
(ATR)
To assist the elderly in grocery shopping
Keeps track of grocery list
Carries items in basket

14. The Netherlands (2012)

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Created by Researchers of the Smart
Home Foundation as part of the
CompanionAble Project
Designed to assist elderly people who
suffer from Mild Cognitive Impairment
(MCI)
It is compatible with other Smart Home
features and is connected to a remote
control center

17. “The developed care robot acts as a coach and
companion, and supports the user by means
of suggestions, encouragements and
reminders on a physical, cognitive and social
level. Think about offering structure by
eating and drinking suggestions and
medicines reminders, proposing activities
such as going for a walk, playing a game, or
calling someone, and reminding about
appointments and tasks.”
-Herjan van den Heuvel of Smart Homes

18. Robots can potentially care for Dementia
patients by providing:
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Companionship
Security
Assistance with daily activities
Medication Reminders
Emergency Communication Assistance

19. The future technology of care-giving robots
can solve the problem of family members
having to provide care to their elderly
relatives at such great sacrifice.

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http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_
what_is_alzheimers.asp
http://www.alz.org/what-is-dementia.asp
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/m
edia-spotlight/201306/can-robots-helpcare-the-elderly

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http://www.eggshellrobotics.com/blog/244-mamoru-robot-toprotect-and-search-for-the-elderly
http://www.gizmag.com/robovie-iirobotic-shopping-assistant/13664/
http://www.popsci.com/technology/articl
e/2009-12/robovie-ii-robot-helps-youshop
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhick
s/2012/08/13/hector-robotic-assistancefor-the-elderly/