Tech & Innovation in Healthcare

Question: A number of our older patients have expressed loneliness and feeling isolated in their home. Several factors are at play, including family who lives far away, not being able to socialize with friends, and transportation issues.

What options are available for our older patients?

Codify Subscriber

Answer: Loneliness and social isolation are significant symptoms of the aging population. The U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation to be a “global epidemic” in 2017, and the feeling has only worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Several options are available to help stem the feelings of isolation and loneliness. In fact, one state is bringing technology to its older adults to help ease their feelings of isolation.

The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is delivering voice-operated smart technology, known as ElliQ, to more than 800 older adults. The NYSOFA is working with local offices for the aging and partners to determine which older adults would benefit most from the technology.

ElliQ by Intuition Robotics is designed to help promote independence and offer support for older adults, while also operating as a “proactive and empathetic care companion.”

Some of the features offered by ElliQ include:

• Assistance with achieving wellness goals and physical activities
• Connecting with family and friends
• Daily check-ins

Aging adults can use their voice or on-screen instructions to operate the device, but the technology is equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) that can inform follow-up conversations that allow the user to develop a sense of relationship with the technology. Plus, ElliQ can proactively start conversations or suggest activities, whereas other technologies respond to user-generated commands.

“This product does so many things to improve health, combat isolation, and improve overall well-being and independence. Designed with input from older adults, the future of supporting and serving older adults includes technology. The future is here,” said Greg Olsen, director, New York State Office for the Aging.

The Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 New York State budget includes $2.9 million for revolutionary NYSOFA initiatives. The initiatives include ElliQ, as well as an animatronic pet initiative. The latter provides older adults with lifelike companion pets, which help “reduce self-reported loneliness by 70 percent.”