Elder companion robot helps disabled couple age at home amid growing care worker shortage

Summary

An elder companion robot named Robbie is helping a New Hampshire couple with disabilities maintain independence at home. Developed with funding from the National Institute of Aging and piloted by the University of New Hampshire, Robbie assists Brian Marquis (who has a traumatic brain injury from a 2012 car crash) and his wife Brenda with daily tasks like exercise reminders. The article explores how robots like Robbie represent an emerging solution to the growing shortage of home care aides, as the oldest baby boomers turn 80 and demand for elder care increases, though truly lifelike home robots remain largely a pipe dream.