British healthtech company Cera has deployed droid-like robots that perform 3,000 care visits weekly to elderly and frail people in the United Kingdom. These robots, powered by Cera's AI software, act as home care assistants. They remind users to eat, drink and take medication, and collect data about their health and well-being. This information is shared with care teams to determine if health interventions are needed.
Cera is working with social care providers to test the use of these robots. The robots are placed in users' homes and support them in daily activities. They also collect data on the health and well-being of patients and clients. That data is shared with care teams to determine if health interventions are needed. This approach is consistent with research findings that care robots can effectively contribute to the well-being of the elderly.
More time for complex care needs
With the use of robots, care costs can be reduced by up to 80 percent, Cera said. And, healthcare professionals, because care robots take over their routine tasks, can focus more on more complex care needs of patients and clients. As a result, care robots also help reduce workload among healthcare professionals and improve efficiency within healthcare facilities.
The robots also help individuals with dementia or memory problems by reminding them of important family events and visits from friends and loved ones. By monitoring how patients interact with reminders and prompts, the robots can inform care teams of the patient's condition without the need for physical or virtual monitoring. This allows caregivers to identify when a patient is unresponsive or has not interacted for an extended period of time.
Future developments and implementation
The first care robots went into service in January of this year. In the (near) future, Cera will also test multiple models of robots. In doing so, the company emphasizes its commitment to improving and expanding this technology. No details are being shared at this time about the number of robots used or the regions in which they operate.
Earlier this month, NHS England announced that it will deploy AI software developed by Cera. This would allow it to predict patients' risk of falls with an accuracy of 97 percent. This could prevent up to 2,000 falls and hospital visits daily. These developments illustrate how AI robots can play a role in supporting healthcare professionals and improving care for vulnerable populations.
Added value of social care robots
Social care robots are a promising innovation in the healthcare sector. They can relieve care workers by taking over tasks such as providing interaction with clients and performing administrative tasks. Care robots are especially useful at peak loads, such as during morning and evening care, when workloads are highest. They help ease workloads by engaging with patients, allowing care workers to focus on more complex care needs.
In addition, these robots can be customized to meet the individual needs of clients, contributing to person centered care. This allows interaction and care to be tailored to what a client needs, improving the overall care experience.
The use of care robots also provides the opportunity to provide care in areas where staff is scarce, making care more accessible. At the same time, healthcare organizations must ensure the right infrastructure and support to ensure the effectiveness of care robots. Proper adoption and training of healthcare personnel are crucial to the success of this technology in healthcare practice.
