Anthropomorphic assistive robot helps alleviate pressure on adult social care.
Service Robotics Ltd — a Bristol-based home robotics pioneer funded by EPIC (eHealth, Productivity, and Innovation in Cornwall) — has recently completed a four-week study of its GenieConnect® anthropomorphic assistive technology robot. Four male subjects between the ages of 28 and 52 were invited to take part in the study, all of them with learning disabilities and living in a communal home owned by Ordinary Living in Cornwall.
The study aimed to collect data on the feasibility of deploying home robots to support people with learning disabilities regain their independence while also promoting digital inclusion.
These individuals often struggle to access basic services like the internet or to remember to perform their daily duties; consequently, GenieConnect® aims to address their unique requirements.
Social Care Vacancies Rise by 52%
Skills for Care reports a record vacancy rate (10.7%) in adult social care posts since records began in 2012. In 2021/22 alone, the number of vacancies surged by 52% (55,000). And in Bristol, more than 20,000 hours of home care are being commissioned every month (from around 50 care providers) but there simply aren’t enough carers to meet this demand.
However, as life expectancy increases, loneliness and isolation will rise accordingly. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic brought home the loneliness and isolation felt by some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Blending User-Friendly Voice Technology With Person-Centred Care
Service Robotics, a previous winner of the Health Tech Digital Awards (“Best Use of Robotics in Healthcare”) envisions GenieConnect® as the ideal solution for the anticipated shortfall in quality home care for older and vulnerable adults.
The platform achieves this by promoting cognitive and physical health, and combating isolation through improved social connectivity. It provides a user-friendly interface, text, voice and video capabilities, engaging content, medication reminders, and more; all of which serve to promote communication and friendship between caregivers, recipients, and family members.
“Finding proven methods of delivering some care remotely is game-changing for the care industry. By doing this, we are enabling care workers to do what they tell us they want; to deliver more and better care.” – Rob Parkes, CEO, Service Robotics Ltd
Tackling Challenges in Learning Disabilities
Identified as model subjects, each of the four individuals selected for the study were experiencing very personal challenges in the completion of their daily duties; for example:
- Peter needed reminders to perform safety checks on his bike, to shower after work, to check the temperature of his medicines fridge, and to take his diabetes medication.
- Jack needed help keeping up with his personal hygiene, including brushing his teeth. He also lacked confidence in accessing the internet.
- Mike needed help keeping up with his medication schedule, such as applying his eye drops. He also required assistance with his personal hygiene.
- Brian needed help putting on clothes and completing house chores. He also needed help cleaning his teeth.
GenieConnect® Automates Reminders and Collaboration
Service Robotics worked collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and the study subjects at Ordinary Living. Personalised reminders and prompts were programmed into Genie robots to support medication management, personal care routines, house chores, and other daily activities. Service Robotics were particularly careful to involve the study subjects in setting up automated prompts, including:
- Hourly application of eye drops.
- Hydration reminders.
- Daily cleaning of teeth.
- Gradual reduction of cigarette breaks (promoting health awareness).
- Cleaning and tidying up communal spaces (promoting social awareness).
- Making video calls and listening to music (promoting digital inclusion).
GenieConnect® Promotes Independence
Significant improvements in personal care, medication management, and confidence were noted over the four-week study. Mike, for example, showed a 50% improvement in his medication routine, remembering to apply his eye drops. Jack, on the other hand, showed a 33% improvement in managing his personal hygiene.
GenieConnect® enables social connection and companionship. The study participants enjoyed using Genie’s entertainment features, including Spotify and BBC iPlayer. Added to the mood reminders (which encouraged self-reflection) this improved their sense of emotional well-being. Periodic video calls with loved ones or their approved Genie buddies further enhanced their sense of social connection.
GenieConnect® enhances confidence and promotes independence. The study participants felt empowered to take ownership of their tasks, resulting in a sense of achievement and greater self-sufficiency. They have been communicating better in communal spaces and had fun with Genie prompting them to complete their tasks. Nonetheless, they also felt compelled to complete their tasks. One of them went as far as dramatically reducing their smoking habit — from smoking 20 cigarettes a day to three a week.
Support workers also felt more empowered, with much of the load of task reminders being taken over by Genie.
“It gives them more confidence; keeps a routine and structure when we’re not here. It’s something they can do themselves rather than having a person telling them what to do and giving them more independence. They also listen to music; they all have great fun (with Genie). Rather than me prompting them as a human … Sometimes it’s easier if it comes from something else – it takes the pressure off.” – Claire, Support Worker, Ordinary Living
About GenieConnect®
With GenieConnect®, health and social care providers are discovering new ways to deliver light touch, remote, residential and domiciliary care solutions that bridge the gap between resources and demand, improving operational and financial performance while delivering high-quality care. To learn more about GenieConnect®, please visit https://www.genieconnect.co.uk/latest-news/
