In Durham, New Hampshire, Brenda and Brian Marquis found a unique solution to their caregiving needs after outliving their second service dog. They turned to a robot named Robbie, which regularly rolls into their living room offering assistance. The robot prompts Brian, who has dealt with a traumatic brain injury since 2012, to exercise, transforming its screen into an exercise video that guides him.
The journey to develop robots that are both practical and human-like remains in progress. The interest grows as the population ages, with the oldest baby boomers reaching 80 and a shortage of home care aides in the United States. This scarcity is driven by low wages and demanding workloads.
The Marquis family benefits from a robot developed at the University of New Hampshire, funded by the National Institute of Aging. Known as ‘Stretch,’ this robot assists Brenda and Brian by prompting Brian, who has dementia, to eat or drink. Although initially interested in robotic dogs, Brenda contacted a UNH robotics professor and ended up with Robbie, known officially as Stretch 4.
Robbie spends much of the day charging but assists Brian with reminders and exercises. Brenda acknowledges their complex life due to physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. She sought help because of difficulty finding adequate home care support.
At the other end of Brenda’s inquiry was Momotaz Begum, a UNH computer science professor. Her lab focuses on robots that aid those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. While many older adults prefer pet-like robotic designs, function prevailed over appearance with Stretch.
Other manufacturers are designing robots for elder companionship. However, those available, like AI-powered speakers, lack mobility and functionality. Begum’s lab is working on reducing caregiver burdens, a task that goes beyond social companionship.
Although humanoids are still impractical due to safety concerns in homes, the Stretch robot from Hello Robot balances simplicity and practicality. CEO Aaron Edsinger emphasizes its pragmatic design compared to humanoids, whose expectations often overshadow their functionality.
The Stretch 4 model features a telescoping gripper capable of holding a water bottle or reading fine print on prescription bottles. It gathers information from its cameras and installed sensors to navigate and identify people. Sold for nearly $30,000, it remains exclusive but vital for its users.
Brian’s care routine with Robbie includes exercise, meal and medicine reminders, and hygiene prompts. It enables him to handle tasks he struggled with, thus providing newfound independence. For Brenda, Robbie alleviates caregiving duties, sparing time for activities like shopping and socializing.
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