Alert
Close

Help those devastated by the Oklahoma tornadoes. Click here to donate today and AARP will match your gift

AARP Membership: Just $16 a Year

Highlights

Open

Dunkin' Donuts

Members receive a Donut with purchase of a L or XL beverage

AARP Salutes Our Heroes

Thanks to the veterans who served our country

Savings Icon

Tanger Outlets

Access to a free coupon book

Technical Icon

Black Community

How to live your best life

Tell Us Your Story

Let us know how the new health care law helps you

Most
Popular

Viewed

Recommended

Commented

One More Thing

Robot Caregivers

Japan's rapidly aging population inspires engineers to design humanoid robots to care for the elders

  • Text
  • Print
  • Comments
  • Recommend

Machines caring for human beings? That's no longer such a futuristic notion; in fact, it has already happened. In Japan, where a growing older population now outnumbers the country's younger citizens, engineers have begun designing humanoid robots to care for the elderly. And the concept may be coming to our shores sooner than you think.

See also: The aging of the world's population.

 

Audrey Mitchell pictured with Celia, the robot, uses it to talk to her family.

Machines caring for humans are no longer a thing of the future, but rather a reality of today. — Photo: Chris Mueller/Redux Pictures

One such automated aide is Asimo, developed by Honda. Able to move much like a human being — and endowed with a high level of dexterity — Asimo could easily step into the role of companion/caregiver. Indeed, the growing use of this and other robots as caregivers inspired the movie Robot & Frank, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is slated for theatrical release later this year.

 

You may also like: 7 gadgets to improve your life.

 

Topic Alerts

You can get weekly email alerts on the topics below. Just click “Follow.”

Manage Alerts

Processing

Please wait...

progress bar, please wait

Tell Us WhatYou Think

Please leave your comment below.

You must be signed in to comment.

Sign In | Register

More comments »

Caregiving
Resource Center

Find tools, work sheets and tips on how to plan, prepare and succeed as a caregiver. Select a Caregiving Resource Center topic from the drop-down menu below.

Discounts & Benefits

Younger hand clasping older hand

Members can access caregiving support services with AARP® Caregiving Help and Advice from Genworth.

AARP Membership Drive: Join or Renew Now

Member access to health and insurance products and services at AARPhealthcare.com.

Grandson (8-9) whispering to grandfather, close-up

Members save on hearing care with the AARP® Hearing Care Program provided by HearUSA.

Caregiving walking

Caregiving can be a lonely journey, but AARP offers resources that can help.

Featured
Groups

Caregiving

What do you wish you knew when you first started caring for a loved one? Discuss

Tactics for Aging In Place

Home is where the Heart is. Share with us your stories, strategies and caregiving tips for aging at home. Discuss