Meeting the Emotional and Psychological Needs of the Elderly
Vision for Elderly Care Robots Growing Explosively in Recent Years
Due to population aging, the issue of elderly care has emerged as a social concern in China, leading to increased interest in elderly care robots.
On the 9th, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, "A robot staff member named Peipei (裴裴) has been introduced at the Chongqing First Social Welfare Institute nursing home," adding, "Peipei is popular for its excellent communication skills and ability to satisfy curiosity."
According to the report, this elderly care robot performs various tasks, from everyday questions such as "Did you sleep well, grandmother?" and "How are you feeling?" to monitoring the health of the elderly.
Mr. Wang, 86, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency, "If I have questions, I ask and get immediate answers," adding that spending time with Peipei has become part of his daily routine. Peipei also patiently listens to Mr. Ji, who often talks about his younger days. It serves as a warm companion to a grandmother suffering from sleep disorders after losing her husband.
Deputy Director Liu Min of the nursing home explained, "Although the hospital has a relatively high nurse-to-patient ratio, it is not easy to meet the emotional and psychological needs of the elderly," adding that the elderly care robot plays a vital role as a companion to the elderly 24 hours a day without rest. Guo Hui, chief engineer at Mashang Consumer Finance Co., Ltd., responsible for the research and development of the care robot technology, described Peipei as "a robot equipped with services for health and safety protection, leisure, entertainment, and psychology."
According to data from China's National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2024, the population aged 60 and above in China has exceeded 300 million, accounting for 22% of the total population. The population aged 65 and above has surpassed 200 million, making up more than 15%. Liu Qingfeng, a representative of the National People's Congress and chairman of the Chinese voice recognition company iFlyTek, told Xinhua News Agency, "Elderly care robots are expected to be introduced into households within about three years."
Xinhua News Agency added, "The vision for elderly care robots has been growing explosively recently," and further explained, "the emergence of elderly care robots is expected to reduce the caregiving burden on society and families and help ensure a stable life for the elderly."
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