Robot Nurses to Care for Aging Japanese (Japan)

March  30, 2009

 Japan, like many countries around the world, is facing a serious shortage of caregivers to look after its rapidly growing elderly population. Unlike others, however, it is about to create an army of robot nurses.

The Japanese government announced Wednesday that it hopes to have both the robot nurses and the safety guidelines for their use in place within five years, according to news reports. Officials at the ministry of trade and industry said a new agency, the Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, has been created to improve safety standards for robots over the next five years. Japan currently produces 70% of the world's industrial robots, according to an AFP report.

Rising numbers of elderly people and shortages of caregivers are problems facing many countries, including the United States. Both the U.S. and Japan have eased certain immigration rules in an effort to lure more foreign caregivers into the workforce. Japanese officials have said they hope that by building nurse robots, it can address its workforce shortages and improve its economy in one fell swoop.

SOURCE:     McKnights.Com

--------------------------------------------------

This is an interesting development. Does it mean the end of emotional and psychological abuse in nursing homes?  

Seriously, as the number of elderly people balloon in most countries, this may be an option to be considered. 

We must examine every proposed solution to aged care, seriously.  Shortage of qualified nurses for nursing homes would undoubtedly set off a number of undesirable outcomes.

Many people are not in favor of robots replacing human nurses altogether. However, it may have a place as a short-term measure or as an adjunct to the main program of caring for the aged.

AC

Click for Updates, More Cases and Resources