Slowly but steadily an 83-year-old woman marched up and down a corridor with a device strapped around her waist and attached to each leg. Sensors in the exoskeleton detected the movement of her hip joints, then drove motors which assisted the swinging of her lower limbs. She said, “My legs feel lighter!”
The Express was visiting the Shintomi nursing home in Tokyo, which has attracted international attention for embracing the latest innovations in robotics and technology for care of the elderly. The home trials new tech that could benefit patients or make tasks easier for staff.
Car manufacturer Honda has been developing walking assist devices since 1999, drawing on studies of the human gait that were used to develop its humanoid robot, ASIMO.
A woman with dementia walked while wearing the Honda assistance device, having previously been unable to walk without someone holding her hands and supporting her. The woman, who has improved significantly, is encouraged to do rehabilitation.
Downstairs, a humanoid robot called Pepper was leading an activity session for around 30 day centre attendees, singing, dancing, and playing videos.
Kimiya Ishikawa, chief executive of Silver Wing Social Care Corporation, which runs Shintomi, believes that Japan’s affinity for technology and the familiarity of robots in popular culture may mean people are more open to their use in everyday life.
However, David Sinclair, chief executive of the International Longevity Centre UK, warned that the potential of technology to transform elderly care is sometimes overstated, citing simple innovations such as urine sensors in beds and lifting aids as being more likely to have a significant impact.
He also expressed concerns about the cost and potential misuse of technology, particularly in relation to older adults with dementia, and the need for better training on informed consent.
