Blog Layout

The Benefits, Ethics, and Future of Artificial Intelligence Used for Seniors

editor • Jul 30, 2020

Senior care is being re-envisioned with the advent of artificial intelligence. There is a need to provide an ever-increasing aging population with consistent and competent health aides. In the United States the healthcare industry employs over 4.5 million nursing aides and orderlies and home health aides and personal care aides , and yet it is not enough to address the future needs of the American elderly. New solutions are being developed for animatronic artificial intelligence and the more standard device driven artificial intelligence to meet the demand.

The National Science Foundation has provided a one million dollar grant to Brown University and Hasbro Inc. to develop furry animatronic cats and dogs coupled with artificial intelligence to assist seniors in their daily lives. The project’s team is tasked with designing a smart companion within three years that is capable of helping older people with the simple yet sometimes challenging tasks of everyday life. The project is called ARIES (Affordable Robotic Intelligence for Elderly Support), and in addition to providing support for daily tasks, the smart companions will also provide comfort and joy for older adults, particularly those with mild dementia problems.

Some of the goals of the ARIES project include sensor systems that allow the smart companion to identify and track important objects in day to day living such as keys, glasses, pillboxes and can also remind the individual of essential tasks and events and even enhance their safety. Communication between the smart companion and the senior will be fully developed so that gestures such as a nudge, or a purr can guide the user toward a misplaced object or be a reminder that it is time to take medications.

Making AI Technology More Affordable

The current animatronic model of cat or dog retails for a reasonable 100 dollars, but when artificial intelligence is added into the product, the costs can skyrocket to five or six thousand dollars. As with all technology over time the market for smart companions will become more competitive and thus more affordable. Beyond task driven assistance these smart companions provide some stress relief and companionship to the senior reducing the problems of social isolation and loneliness.

The startup Intuition Robotics Ltd. has more than twenty million dollars in venture capital funding of which Toyota AI ventures is a major investor and has launched ELLI.Q , an “aging companion.” This artificial intelligence elder care robot uses machine learning and vision enabling ELLI.Q to make suggestions to its senior friend, recommending entertainment and activities in addition to monitoring the overall wellness of the senior in their environment. ELLI.Q is a more robust system than the currently available “Okay Google” Assistant or Apple’s “Siri” as it has the added benefit of vision and capability to tailor information to the needs and schedule of the senior it supports.

The Benefits and Ethics of AI for Seniors

There are many other examples of corporate research and development into the applications of artificial intelligence to benefit the aging population. As these systems become more prevalent in senior care, ethical questions will have to be addressed as well as technological ones.

For instance, if an elderly care robot is reminding their senior to take their medication and yet the senior refuses to comply with the instruction, what happens next? Without a system to contact a human nurse counterpart, the patient could merely ignore the reminder. What if the patient has dementia and immediately forgets what they were instructed to do? Will the smart companion have redundancies to address this or will that feature make a senior confused and take their medication twice? What would happen in the scenario if a diabetic patient is told not to have a high sugar content food but they ignore the warning? Will there ever be a time when a remote caregiver uses an automated robot to restrain an older adult? What are the moral and legal precedents for this type of artificial intelligence/robotic interaction and what happens if someone is hurt because of it?

The future of artificial intelligence application in senior care is intriguing but practical applications are currently limited. While the basic capabilities for in-home companion products are functional, provide oversight, and are ready for the marketplace, the more complex artificial intelligence smart systems are still in development. The increasing aged population will continue to drive the necessity for these smart systems.

If you have questions about what you have read, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  Give us a call at (866) 456-9668 – we would be happy to discuss how we can help you with your planning.

Dementia Can Put Financial Wellbeing at Risk

By David Faloni • 09 Dec, 2021
Reduced brain function may be indicative of dementia and can result in poor financial decisions. If you are age 50 or older, easy access to your financial assets like stocks and bonds, checking and savings accounts, money market accounts, and other assets can lead to loss of these funds if an unauthorized person gains access… The post Dementia Can Put Financial Wellbeing at Risk appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

How Diet and Exercise Affect Alzheimer’s Disease

By David Faloni • 02 Dec, 2021
Symptoms such as memory issues should never be dismissed.  There are many resources available through a simple internet search, and professional associations that provide education and guidance through a maze of questions you may have regarding how to approach someone you suspect may be experiencing memory loss, or how to ask for help if that… The post How Diet and Exercise Affect Alzheimer’s Disease appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

Assisted Living Communities of the Future

By David Faloni • 26 Nov, 2021
Assisted living is changing for seniors with new advancements in medicine, technology, and socioeconomics. The rising cost of assisted living means that some families are looking for new alternatives, while those who consider traditional assisted living have new options to consider. Alternatives to assisted living include multigenerational housing and in-home care. As these options become… The post Assisted Living Communities of the Future appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

Considerations for Choosing Co-Agents

By David Faloni • 18 Nov, 2021
I have to decide between my two children, who should be my power of attorney when I need help communicating with doctors and handling my financial matters. Can’t I just name them both? You can, but please don’t. You risk creating conflict or chaos if you name more than one child to serve simultaneously. Instead,… The post Considerations for Choosing Co-Agents appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

The Benefits of Having a Family Caregiving Meeting

By David Faloni • 11 Nov, 2021
When caring for an aging family member, a family caregiving meeting can be a great way to coordinate communications and activities. These meetings are beneficial for helping to keep all family members abreast of decisions that need to be made, changes in diagnosis or prognosis, and help to ensure that all family members feel that… The post The Benefits of Having a Family Caregiving Meeting appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

The Importance of Clear End-of-Life Care Instructions

By David Faloni • 04 Nov, 2021
You would hope your living will is properly prepared and your resuscitation instructions or DNR (do not resuscitate) are in order. While your wishes in a living will may be appropriately documented, that does not guarantee the instructions will be carried out as you stated. The frightening truth is that mistakes about your end-of-life instructions… The post The Importance of Clear End-of-Life Care Instructions appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

The Effects of a Second Marriage on Medicaid

By David Faloni • 28 Oct, 2021
When you embark on a second marriage, you should be aware of how this will affect you and your new spouses’ Medicaid benefits. Current costs for long-term care facilities can run between $70,000 – $150,000 annually. Studies show that 70% of Americans will need that kind of care, perhaps for three years or longer. If… The post The Effects of a Second Marriage on Medicaid appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

Apply These Five Lifestyle Habits to Lengthen Your Life Span

By editor • 21 Oct, 2021
A healthy lifestyle can increase your longevity significantly. Your lifespan can be increased by as much as 14 years for a woman and 12.2 years for a man according to the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation study. The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but according to the World Health… The post Apply These Five Lifestyle Habits to Lengthen Your Life Span appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

The Potential Outcomes of Disinheriting a Child

By editor • 14 Oct, 2021
In estate planning, it is common that parents divide the inheritance equally among the children. But sometimes, parents intentionally choose to not leave anything to a child, and the reasons for doing so may vary. One reason could be that a child who is more financially successful than the others and the parent doesn’t feel… The post The Potential Outcomes of Disinheriting a Child appeared first on Faloni Law Group.

Short-Term Disability Insurance and Its Many Benefits

By editor • 07 Oct, 2021
Imagine this scenario, an unwed middle-aged lady, Sandy, being the sole caretaker for her 85-year-old mother. Sandy still worked full time and would help her mom in the evenings and weekends. Unfortunately, Sandy was in a serious car accident and would be out of work for at least 8 weeks. She now faced the challenge… The post Short-Term Disability Insurance and Its Many Benefits appeared first on Faloni Law Group.
More Posts
Share by: