Robots are now assisting at least 1,000 people in care settings across England, according to health tech company Cera. These droids provide support such as medication reminders and help with daily activities.
One user, 74-year-old Vera Gadsdon in Lewisham, has a robot named Robert that reminds her about medication and washing, and offers knitting tips. Her carer, Pinar Elmaz, views the droids as an additional tool, allowing carers to monitor residents remotely.
Cera, founded by Dr Ben Maruthappu, claims its AI tools can reduce hospital admissions by up to 70%. The company also states its robots can boost care teams' capacity by 20% and productivity by up to 80%.
Tech expert James Erskine suggests robots excel at routine, instruction-based tasks like monitoring health and medication reminders. However, he notes that problem-solving, judgement, and emotional understanding still require human interaction.