No Dutiful Son for Long Illness?…In the 21st Century Super-Aged Society, Robots Take Over [Reading Science]

AI, Robots, and ICT Technologies Emerging as Mainstream in Elderly Health Management Services

Bipedal walking robot Atlas. Stock photo. Not related to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] "In a super-aged society, 'robots' are the filial helpers."

In a society where living apart from family has become the norm, the desire of children to show filial piety to their parents living far away remains strong. The recent craze for high-end massage chairs, selling like wildfire, is a prime example. As a super-aged society approaches, where those aged 65 and older will account for about one-third of the total population, elderly health management services utilizing information and communication technology (ICT) such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots are rapidly advancing. An era is dawning where ICT technology takes care of aging parents on behalf of their children.

◇The ‘Trend’ in Solving Elderly Issues

Single-person households are the mainstream, and it is a super-aged society. The number of elderly living alone is increasing. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, those aged 65 and older accounted for 15.7% of the population in 2020 and will reach 20.3% by 2025, entering a super-aged society. By 2030, it is expected that 16.5% to 26.3% of the total population, including chronic disease patients such as hypertension, diabetes, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases, and dementia, will require elderly care services. This directly leads to social problems such as family and societal caregiving and financial burdens, as well as solitary deaths. In fact, in 2018, the average health insurance medical expenses per elderly person aged 65 and older were 4,487,000 KRW, an increase of 325,000 KRW compared to the previous year. Moreover, the demand for non-face-to-face medical services has grown due to the COVID-19 pandemic response. ICT-based health management services can reduce the exponentially increasing elderly welfare and medical costs. They are also suitable for providing consumer-customized and preventive medical services. Especially for chronic diseases that require long-term self-medication and lifestyle adjustments such as exercise, walking, and diet, these services are ideal. They can simultaneously improve individual quality of life, reduce unnecessary medical expenses, extend healthy lifespan, promote well-ageing, and minimize health inequalities.

Accordingly, academic research is also focusing on this area. According to a report by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) in December last year, the number of papers related to ICT-based health management services in the nursing field surged from 265 in 2010 to 1,549 in 2020 over the past decade. Government research and development (R&D) investment is also increasing. As of 2018, the health and medical sector accounted for 9.1% (1.6845 trillion KRW) of national R&D, growing at an average annual rate of 6%, while the ICT-based medical information system sector grew by 19% annually. The NRF analyzed, "Non-face-to-face nursing is possible, addressing caregiver shortages, reducing caregiver fatigue, preventing infections, and providing 24-hour continuous care," and added, "As changes accelerate with AI-based digital transformation responding to elderly life and health management service innovations, nursing scholars are increasing related research."

◇Evolving with AI and Robots

Currently developed services mainly include smartphone health management applications (apps), AI speakers, wristwatch-type health measurement services, Bluetooth-type blood pressure and blood glucose monitors, care robots, and remote elderly health monitoring services. The United States is leading the way. Since 2016, it has developed and commercialized the virtual caregiver service ‘Care Angel.’ Based on AI and voice recognition solutions, the virtual caregiver reminds elderly people to take their medication and manages their physical and emotional health. Various care robot services have also been commercialized, such as social bots supporting social and emotional health for dementia patients and robots for improving lifestyle habits and health management for chronic disease patients. Research has shown that the robot seal ‘PARO,’ used for psychological therapy of dementia patients, reduces stress and pain and improves breathing and oxygen saturation, demonstrating health improvement effects.

In Europe, where population aging began earlier, these technologies are actively utilized. The European Union (EU) provides caregiving services for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s dementia patients through the ‘ICT4Life Project.’ In particular, Belgium’s nursing assistant robot ‘Zora’ lives together in elderly care facilities, assisting with rehabilitation exercises and emotional activities. In Ireland, the UK, Norway, and Finland, services using wearable devices to prevent falls and injuries and assist health management for the elderly are being researched. In China, the patient care robot companion cat ‘Mascot’ has been developed, and Japan has released the robot ‘PALMI,’ which can converse with elderly people.

In Korea, active R&D and commercialization efforts are underway. The government announced the New Deal 2.0 policy last July, planning to invest 400 billion KRW by 2025 to build ‘smart medical and care infrastructure.’ The main goal is to develop and distribute care robots capable of preventing pressure ulcers, assisting with excretion, meal support, and mobility aid for elderly people with limited mobility.

Not only academia and local governments but also telecommunications companies such as SKT, LGT, and KT are accelerating the development and commercialization of related services using smartphone apps, AI speakers, and smartwatches. Research and implementation are underway for customized self-health management smart home platforms for chronic disease patients, chatbot services for self-management of heart failure patients, AI interactive care robots for dementia patients, and non-face-to-face safety accident prevention and health management services using big data. An era has opened where platforms equipped with AI and big data manage elderly health, safety, emergency response, and depression management on behalf of their children.

Artificial intelligence care robot distributed by Seocho-gu, Seoul (center in the photo)

◇Challenges Including Digital Literacy

For these ‘digital filial helpers’ to perform their roles properly, many challenges remain. First, the elderly, who are the service targets, have low digital literacy, meaning they cannot properly operate ICT devices such as smartphones, which is the biggest challenge. Cost is also an issue. Active budget investment in R&D is necessary, and telecommunications infrastructure must be properly established. Even in Korea, ranked number one in the world for internet access, many low-income or remote rural areas lack adequate infrastructure. The high cost of distributing equipment such as robots reduces accessibility for low-income elderly people. Along with this, there are ‘limitations of machines.’ Due to malfunctions or errors, they may fail to accurately check human information or provide detailed and perfect services like humans.

There is also the possibility of infringing on the privacy of elderly service users, leaking personal information, or violating human rights. Social consensus is needed on the legal and institutional limits of introducing and permitting such services. Professor Park Yeon-hwan of Seoul National University’s Department of Nursing pointed out, "Since about 2 to 3 years ago, smart care technology has emerged as a major means of elderly health management and solving social problems," adding, "When introducing any service, thorough evaluation of safety, harmfulness, and economic feasibility must be conducted in advance. Careful management is required, such as entrusting machines only with repetitive and simple services under human supervision."