China uses robots to care for the elderly

With this policy, China is among the first countries to legalize the use of advanced robots in high-tech healthcare. The new guidance was announced by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on January 7. Accordingly, the country will promote the development of humanoid robots combined with artificial intelligence (AI) technology specifically for elderly care. The strategy aims to accelerate the integration of technology into health and geriatrics services and support other key projects in this area.

The Chinese government says humanoid robots have outstanding ability to interact with humans. The country also prioritizes the development of early warning services and risk prevention in caring for the elderly at home.

The Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission has outlined an action plan through 2027, focusing on deploying robots in roles such as emotional support, health monitoring and smart home services. .

Similarly, Wuhan, Hubei province also introduced robots to assist the elderly. These robots are equipped with 3D facial modeling and scanning technology. They can help lift the elderly from bed to wheelchair, robot arms help the elderly eat and turn doorknobs.

A health monitoring company Eihoo, which specializes in operating cafeterias for the elderly, introduced a chip-embedded meal tray product to monitor food intake. The cash register at the checkout counter will read the chip, immediately reporting the amount of calories and nutrients in each item, helping to reduce the workload for service and medical care staff. Patrons can open a card that monitors weight, nutrition and health status.

The government also plans to establish a unified nationwide geriatric information platform to meet growing demand. This platform will play a key role in streamlining and enhancing elderly support services.

China’s aging population is growing the fastest in the world. By the end of 2023, the country recorded 216.76 million people aged 65 and older, accounting for 15.4% of the total population. However, the number of nursing homes and care facilities is limited, with only 8.2 million beds nationwide.

The aging population is not just a Chinese problem, it is a growing concern in the Asia-Pacific region. A report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published last May noted that developing countries in this continent and the Pacific are not ready enough to “ensure the welfare of an aging population”. quick”. The number of people over 60 years old will double to 1.2 billion by 2050, accounting for nearly 25% of the region’s population.

“Asia-Pacific’s rapid development is a success story, but it is also creating huge demographic shifts, causing increasing pressure. Governments need to prepare immediately to supporting hundreds of millions of elderly people in the region,” said Dr. Albert Park, chief economist of ADB.

The report also raises issues surrounding health care for the elderly, such as lack of pensions and physical and mental pressure faced by people over 60 years old. Even India, the country with the largest number of young people, is not immune to this problem. According to a report published by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in December 2023, the country’s population is also aging rapidly. The number of people aged 60 and over is currently 153 million, expected to double to 347 million by 2050.