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Thanks to Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and cameras, the in-home monitoring of elderly individuals is now easier than ever. For instance, Panasonic and Fujitsu jointly conducted a trial using cloud-service air conditioners to record changes in temperature and humidity in the homes of elderly people. Meanwhile, non-contact life-sign sensors were also deployed to track sleeping patterns and roaming habits, with the data transmitted in real time to caregivers via the internet.

When deviant circumstances were detected—such as dangerously high temperatures in a room, or frequent instances of awakening during sleep—alert notifications were sent out to the relevant responders.

In addition to creating a safe living space for seniors and giving peace of mind to their families, IoT monitoring devices also reduce the resources required to perform safety checks on the elderly living alone.

Designed to supplement home care, Robear is Japan’s nurse of the future. A gentle giant with a friendly face, this powerful automaton can take over backbreaking work from caregivers, such as carrying their wards and helping the infirm onto their feet.

While the cold touch and brute strength of the Robear may seem intimidating, seniors can rest assured that the machine is programmed with the frailty of its wards in mind. For example, the robot’s low gear ratio allows it to bend its joints nimbly and precisely, while built-in sensors help it move smoothly without jolting the patient in its arms.

Designed by researchers at RIKEN and Sumitomo Riko Company Limited, Robear’s features ensure that even power-intensive tasks—such as lifting patients from a wheelchair to the bed, and vice versa—can be done in a safe manner.

Many of us take chewing and swallowing food for granted. Among seniors, even these simple tasks may prove to be a challenge due to weakening of the jaw and throat muscles. If not properly addressed, poor nutrition and dehydration may set in, which take a toll on overall health.

While 3D printers have been known to solve a host of problems in the manufacturing industry, they have recently been used by researchers at the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital to produce attractive and palatable dishes for the elderly. Instead of printing ink or plastics, these 3D printers dispense freshly puréed food, which does not require chewing and is easy to swallow. The layering of different tastes and textures can also serve to whet the appetites of fussy eaters.

For elderly patients recovering from a stroke, fractures or other musculoskeletal conditions, leaving the house for rehabilitation exercises can be a great inconvenience.

Smart Health TeleRehab, developed at the National University of Singapore and launched in a pilot study by healthcare technology companies IHiS and T-Rehab, enables patients to undergo rehabilitation exercises from the comfort of their homes. This is done through the use of wearable sensors and remote monitoring by therapists.

Patients can complete the prescribed exercises with video demonstrations, instructions and indicators on a tablet. With the video-conferencing feature, immediate feedback can be given to patients on whether the exercises are correctly performed. Importantly, by allowing physiotherapists to take care of multiple individuals remotely, TeleRehab helps healthcare providers to overcome the shortage of trained therapists.

Keeping in shape is important even in old age. In Singapore, robots are getting senior citizens to keep fit by engaging them in daily workout sessions.

The Robocoach was developed by engineers at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, a tertiary education institute in the techobsessed city state. Armed with a language repertoire of English, Mandarin and Cantonese, the robot coach has no problems guiding up to six people in pre-programmed music and exercise routines each lasting ten minutes long. These routines are fully customizable, and the robot can even give feedback on whether its wards are performing the exercises correctly.

For the social media-savvy elderly, the Robocoach can also take photos during exercise sessions and share them on Facebook.

This article was first published in the July 2018 print version of Asian Scientist Magazine.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Magazine; Photo: Lam Oi Keat/Asian Scientist Magazine.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

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