Will a Robot Take Your Caregiving Job?

With technological breakthroughs in the past 20 years, this question is becoming a reality. In fact, companies like Apple have already begun replacing humans with machines for automation in their assembly plants.

The harsh reality is that it’s cheaper to use machines to build things than pay wages to people. In many cases, it’s just as effective—if not more so—to employ machines over humans.

Even industries like caregiving are becoming automated. As technology develops, the lives of seniors living alone or in assisted living is changing.

As technology rapidly advances, the world is shifting towards automation. Caregivers may find their jobs being replaced.

One web tool is a step ahead in determining which jobs may be replaced with robots.

Will Robots Take My Job?, pulls data from the 2013 Oxford University report, The Future of Employment: How susceptible are jobs to computerization? 

Here’s how the web tool works:

• It uses real data to give an accurate guess of the future of a job. The engine lets you know which occupations are most at risk of being replaced by robots and automation. All you have to do is perform a simple search to get the info you need.
• You search the job you are curious about, and get results. The tool gives you an automation risk level percentage, and tells you if you should worry about your job or not. 
• Some occupations have it worse than others. Caregivers have a high risk at 74% of becoming automated. Jobs in retail sales have a high risk in the 90% range of being replaced by robots.

With technological breakthroughs in the past 20 years, this question is becoming a reality. In fact, companies like Apple have already begun replacing humans with machines for automation in their assembly plants.
It turns out the transition from humans to robots for caregiving has already begun.

Currently, a robot companion for seniors called the Ohmni is being tested in an assisted living community in California.

The Ohmni is a robot that gives a way for families to communicate with their aging loved ones. Here’s how it works: 

• The Ohmni has an integrated tablet with a camera, speaker, and a microphone. With it, you are able to easily call your loved one and have two-way video calls with them. It’s an excellent solution for those who live far from Mom or Dad, and can’t meet in person.
• It is operated remotely using Wi-Fi. You drive the Ohmni around your loved one’s home using its simple interface. It mimics humans with its height and moving neck. This allows the user to have a very lifelike view of the setting their loved one is in while they see and hear each other.
• It allows families to be present with their loved one anytime they please. If Mom or Dad live alone or in assisted living, the Ohmni allows you to be there anytime. They won't be lonely, and you will always be in the loop of what’s going on in at their home.
• It pairs well with an Alert1 medical alert system. Together, Ohmni and Alert1 would be perfect combo for peace of mind. Your loved one’s mobile medical alarm help button will keep them safe at home and on the go.  

View Alert1 Medical Alerts

As we can see with technologies like the Ohmni, robots can be very useful for seniors who age in place or are in assisted living.

However, the technology needs to continue to improve to meet the needs of seniors.

As tech with robots advances, robots will be able to aid seniors in assisted living in a number of ways:

• Robots will soon act as caregivers for seniors who live alone or in assisted living.  According to Thuc Vu, co-founder of Ohmnilabs, the Ohmni (and other robots like it) is in for some big upgrades. Soon, the robots will be able to fully take on the role of caregiver and be more useful than ever in aiding your loved one.
• Save money for seniors or families who spend on assisted living. A robot doing the same caregiving tasks for seniors will be cheaper than a human caregiver. According to Lily Sarafan of Home Care Assistance, the cost of a robot like the Ohmni would be just 20% of the cost of a full time caregiver.
• Help seniors stay in their homes. With a robot as a caregiver, your loved one would have 24/7 protection. Caregivers need to take days off, and cannot be with your loved one at all times. A robot (and a medical alert!) will ensure they always have the caregiver they need.

The first steps towards automation in many jobs like caregiving is already going into full force.

Although nothing will be able to ever replace human interactions, robots for caregiving and assisted living can be of great use to seniors and change the way they age for the better.