HC Innovations

Partner and customer feedback

Partner's Feedback

Alzheimer's Australia VIC

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The robots were placed into the homes of people living with dementia and their carers. The robot delivered a range of lifestyle centred, personalised services to each participant. These ‘personalised services’ included: singing and dancing to favourite songs, providing news and weather forecasts, reading books and short stories, making phone calls, providing personalised reminders, playing quizzes and telling jokes. 

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The robots were found to improve emotional and social engagement and coping with daily life.

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The project demonstrated the following benefits: 

• Breakdown of technology barriers between people with dementia and robots 

• Co-existence of robots with pets 

• Emotional and sensory enrichment through sustained and prolonged use and engagement by the participant

• Increased social connectivity with participants’ extended family 

• Respite for carers and partners 

• Increased resilience and ability to cope with daily life.

 

​Reference

Annual report 2013-14, Technology transforming care, ALZHEIMER’S AUSTRALIA VIC, 

 

The robots can improve the quality of life of people with dementia as well as provide respite to their carers.  The wider benefits of this study is that people with dementia will be able to live in their own homes for longer more comfortably and with greater independence. ​​

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​​Reference

2013-1 Alzheimer's Australia Summarised Research Report, ALZHEIMER’S AUSTRALIA Dementia Research Foundation Victoria 

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Client feedback

Canossa Home Health and Residential Services

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As Managers of Canossa Nursing Home in Trebonne, we would like to express our total support for the above project. We are an 84 bed aged care facility with a 40 bed Hostel (low care) and a 44 bed Nursing Home (high care). As part of our 40 bed Hostel we have and 8 bed secure special care unit for people suffering from dementia.

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We were first introduced to this innovative technology whilst attending the Aged Care Queensland conference in March 2010. We immediately recognised the benefits of such technology, not only in our facility but also to assist people to stay in their homes longer. There are usually two main reasons a person comes into a nursing home. Families have concerns that their family member is not taking their medication or that they are forgetting to turn off appliances and the family is concerned of the serious repercussions of both scenarios. Matilda & Jack can be easily programmed to alert the elderly to ensure these tasks are completed or alert the family that there is a problem.

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We invited Mr. Rajiv Khosla and his team from Research Centre for Computers, Communication and Social Innovation (RECCSI) to come to our facility to introduce Matilda & Jack to our residents in Aug/Sept 2010. This was so successful that we followed up with a field trial in October 2010 with the following benefits noted:

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• Whilst Jack was programmed to call out the bingo numbers the Diversional Therapist and volunteer were free to provide hands on support for the residents.

• The residents were able to interact/participate with the technology with a touch pad to remind Jack to call the next number, giving them a sense of having control over the activity and a sense of usefulness.

• The ability of the technology to remind residents to drink water, shower, toilet, go for a walk etc.

• The robots are able to alert staff when there is a problem by sensing anxiety in a resident.

• There was a distinct improvement in mood when the residents interacted with Matilda & Jack, assisting in dealing with depression and anxiety. This was particularly evident with our high care Nursing Home residents, where Matilda was dancing and singing and generally entertaining them.

• Assistance with memory and communication skills with Jack asking quiz questions and providing positive feedback whether the answer was correct or not.

• The interest from the residents in the technology brought the residents out of social isolation.

• Jack was also programmed to verbalise the activity calendar each month. Residents were able to find out what activities were planned without needing to read the calendar. This was particularly beneficial for people with literacy or eyesight issues.

• Jack & Matilda broke down the intergenerational barriers between the “old way” and the current technology. Enhancing their sense of usefulness and connectivity with the technology.

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Some of the possibilities we see in the future as this technology is developed include:

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• Reading the newspaper with the residents – especially high care residents who are very interested in what is going on in the world but no longer have the ability to read.

• Could be used in our dementia section to alert staff when residents are getting restless.

• Divert attention of restless residents to a positive activity.

• Provide company for people who feel socially isolated.

• Assist in our pastoral care program by saying Rosary or other religious activities.

• Carers supporting people diagnosed with dementia could use the technology to supervise their family member while they rested.

• Reminding elderly to use the toilet – reducing falls at home by preventing incontinent episodes.

• Providing assistance to people with disabilities who struggle to remain independent.