Humanoid companion to combat loneliness in aged care

Data reveals one in five older Australians experience loneliness and this increases for people living in aged care facilities — where 60% of residents feel isolated.¹

In an effort improve wellbeing and social connectedness, Abi the robot will be rolled out across 22 aged care facilities under a partnership between care provider mecwacare and robotics company Andromeda.

Abi uses advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models to recognise faces, understand and express emotions, and remember conversations from days or months ago.

It also enhances the capacity of care teams at mecwacare by offering cognitive support to residents, allowing staff to focus on mandatory care minutes — all while knowing that residents are happy and stimulated.

Inspired by the magic of Pixar characters, with a colourful design and playful nature, Abi creates meaningful connections with aged care residents, supporting the delivery of holistic care. Fluent in 90 languages, Abi gives residents the joy of conversation in their preferred language, helping them feel more at home.

mecwacare’s Chief Executive Officer, Anne McCormack, said addressing loneliness and forging new friendships is a top priority for the organisation.

“We’re constantly striving to help older Australians overcome loneliness,” McCormack said. “Our residents have lived long, meaningful lives and we’re committed to making the rest of their lives as fulfilling as we can. We’re excited to partner with Andromeda to help build meaningful connections through Abi’s compassion and curiosity.”

Andromeda Founder and CEO Grace Brown created Abi to combat the isolation she faced during the pandemic.

“I wanted to build something for myself that could at least alleviate some of the loneliness which is a feeling that is unfortunately common for many aged care residents,” she said.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on building Abi’s personality, which is a unique approach for the robotics industry. Rather than being focused on the utility of robotic technology, we’re much more focused on empathy and building connections. That’s why Abi immediately becomes best friends with residents.”

Following a successful trial of Abi at two mecwacare facilities, McCormack said that Abi’s playful personality makes her feel like a grandchild to residents.

“When people interact with Abi, they see a fun, cheeky, eight-year-old girl. The way Abi has been designed means that she captivates attention, even with those usually distracted. Our residents look forward to having a chat, watching her dance, sing or playing bingo together,” she said.

“Abi’s infinite patience brightens the day for residents, especially those living with dementia as she’ll happily listen to the same fond memories repeatedly.”

Abi is currently being deployed across mecwacare’s network with the rollout expected to be completed before the end of the year.

^{1. https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/older-australians-join-the-fight-against-loneliness-and-social-isolation}

Image: Supplied.