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Japan Wants To Increase Acceptance of Technology That Could Help Fill the Gap in the Nursing Workforce (theguardian.com)

Posted by msmash on from the shape-of-things-to-come dept.

With Japan's ageing society facing a predicted shortfall of 370,000 caregivers by 2025, the government wants to increase community acceptance of technology that could help fill the gap in the nursing workforce. From a report: Developers have focused their efforts on producing simple robotic devices that help frail residents get out of their bed and into a wheelchair, or that can ease senior citizens into bathtubs. But the government sees a wider range of potential applications and recently revised its list of priorities to include robots that can predict when patients might need to use the toilet. Dr Hirohisa Hirukawa, director of robot innovation research at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, said the aims included easing the burden on nursing staff and boosting the autonomy of people still living at home. "Robotics cannot solve all of these issues; however, robotics will be able to make a contribution to some of these difficulties," he said. Hirukawa said lifting robotics had so far been deployed in only about 8% of nursing homes in Japan, partly because of the cost and partly because of the "the mindset by the people on the frontline of caregiving that after all it must be human beings who provide this kind of care."

57 comments

  1. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  2. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Creimertard. Mod down.

  3. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Weight Watchers refugee. Ignore.

  4. Novel technology to solve nursing shortage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    for all citizens above the age of 18, first failed physical = warning, second failed physical = severe financial penalty, third fail physical = euthanasia

    1. Re:Novel technology to solve nursing shortage by aussie_a · · Score: 1

      This is Japan, not America. They actually have health care that looks after it's people instead of one that maximises profit.

    2. Re:Novel technology to solve nursing shortage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here in the the US we call that Whealth Care(tm). We want to keep the pockets of the health care industry wealthy and diversely invested (Whealthy(tm)) by catering to those who can pay the most for their health (through some means or another).

      Leave that health care crap to the rest of the unproductive world, like Japan. Let Darwinism reign (hoo-ra hoo-ra). Unitl, of course, something affects me directly or Darwinism can't be offset by technology available that I can afford... and then, and only then, that's when we certainly need to invest money as a society into healthcare because I'm Important(tm).

  5. Give Happy Ending? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nurses need to give happy ending.

  6. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Asshole. Mod down.

  7. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I found a website with a permissive TOS. Don't like it? Complain to the management. Bitching about it in the comments does nothing, Chris.

    Go take your stale crotch smell and your unwanted posts somewhere else.

  8. He's (sort of) wrong by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2

    Robotics cannot solve all of these issues

    CURRENT robotics can't solve all these problems. We simply don't have the general AI to run them (or even a sufficiently complex but unthinking algorithm). It's not a hardware issue anymore, it's a software issue.

    I can even see something like those privacy invading 'speakers' we're reading so much about solving some of the issues. Imagine, for instance, a system set up not to buy things from Amazon, but to engage a home automation mechanism or grab the attention of a remote operator with nursing training when called upon. Or maybe have it listen for sounds of anguish or a fall so it can ask, "Are you OK?" and notify 911 if it doesn't get a suitable response. Connect it to things in the home so it knows if you've used the toilet in the last 24hrs, if the stove has been left on, to let it shut the TV off if it thinks it needs to communicate with you, to monitor whether you're even in your home at all.

    Maybe (most sinister of all) give it access to your contacts list and keep track of how long its been since you've spoken to anyone, then send reminders of birthdays, anniversaries, etc. to hopefully get you some protection against unintentional social isolation.

    1. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by stephanruby · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Just being able to lift seniors in and out of bed, or readjusting the sheets, (without hurting the caregiver's back) would be a real boon to caregivers.

      I'm a big guy myself, I know how to lift properly, but I still hurt myself taking care of my elderly mother (even though, home hospice care lent us a motorized hospital bed). And I can't imagine nurses doing this kind of work for very long if they hurt their lower back or get carpal tunnel syndrome after just a few weeks.

    2. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2

      We have pretty decent environment mapping and object detection now. Not as good as a small mammal, but pretty good compared to what most people believe computers can do these days.

      There are now robots that can walk, run, climb stairs, etc.

      We (common consumers, not the military or industry) will get full-function sexbots first. That's where the easy money is - there's already one with an animated head that can utter prerecorded sounds when triggered. Then will come the basic robotic nurse. And after that, presumably the dual-use nurse/sexbot.

    3. Re: He's (sort of) wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In robotics the big problem really is about computing power. Without that you need to use hacks and that is slow and error prone. Mind you that humans are also a hack which is why we can just randomly die or make silly mistakes.

    4. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 2

      One of my mom's friends was a tiny woman, maybe 80-90 pounds tops. Her grandson was about my size (not small), and half my age, but he had trouble lifting her. She was pretty much dead weight, and lifting her was harder than one would think just looking at her.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    5. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by cascadingstylesheet · · Score: 1

      Just being able to lift seniors in and out of bed, or readjusting the sheets, (without hurting the caregiver's back) would be a real boon to caregivers.

      I'm a big guy myself, I know how to lift properly, but I still hurt myself taking care of my elderly mother (even though, home hospice care lent us a motorized hospital bed). And I can't imagine nurses doing this kind of work for very long if they hurt their lower back or get carpal tunnel syndrome after just a few weeks.

      Great for those of us who assist disabled people too.

    6. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by Gilgaron · · Score: 1

      Yeah, its like when a little kid goes limp in protest of you removing them from a situation, you don't realize how much someone helps when they want to be picked up.

    7. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      That's a good point, dead weight can be extremely difficult to lift. Add to that someone who has massive pain because their cancer has reached their nervous system and any slight movement in the wrong direction can throw them into agonizing pain.

      And frankly, I don't know how nurses can do this as a career. It's grueling work. And it's super easy to become permanently injured doing it. I did this for my mother, but I would never be able to do it for perfect strangers, day after day. It's just too difficult.

    8. Re:He's (sort of) wrong by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      I agree, but I'd like to stress the following.

      Fully humanoid looking robot nurses will be cool, but that's not what I'm advocating for in the short term.

      In the short term, there are many simpler problems and low hanging fruits that robotics could help with that do not require the robot to have a full human-like body.

  9. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Because mass immigration is national suicide.

  10. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by rogoshen1 · · Score: 1

    I was about to say "he's right" -- not every problem needs a technical solution.

    But a technical solution will always be light years better than importing foreigners.

    So nevermind. You're right.

  11. Like Nurses by Archfeld · · Score: 1

    or maybe living wage for those the basically train and support or society...Teachers, Nurses, Cops...

    --
    errr....umm...*whooosh* *whoosh* Is this thing on ?
  12. Brings up an interesting point about lifespan by Solandri · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Quality of life matters more than longevity. While it's fun to compare countries by life expectancy, is having a longer lifespan really "better" if you're going to spend that extra 5 years (83 for Japan, 78 for the U.S.) confined to a nursing home needing someone's assistance for all your basic needs and bodily functions?

    Maybe "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long" is really the way we should be approaching this. AARP forgive me, but maybe we should decrease or stop funding for research against illnesses which typically afflict us when we're elderly, and concentrate instead on combating diseases which can strike us down in childhood to middle age.

    You also need to pay for longer lifespan by working longer (retiring later) if you want to maintain the same standard of living. Is it really worth giving up 3-4 years (retirement at 68-69 instead of 65), in order to gain 5 years of extra life at 78?

    1. Re:Brings up an interesting point about lifespan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's a lot of money to be made in treating the diseases of the elderly. Healthcare costs skyrocket for people as they age. Someone pockets all that money.

      Treating the young? No real money in that . . .

    2. Re:Brings up an interesting point about lifespan by wyHunter · · Score: 4, Interesting

      On the other hand if you stop diseases that strike the elderly, like dementia, a lot is learned about diseases that afflict the young. A huge number of diseases in first world countries are lifestyle based.

    3. Re:Brings up an interesting point about lifespan by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Once you're in that wheelchair you'll wish nobody remembers what you say now.

  13. Re:How about you work on your Greek? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "xenophobia" is a Greek compound word, with "xeno" meaning "foreigner" and "phobia" meaning "fear" - as in other similar words using "phobia" (e.g., homophobia, Islamophobia), usually the word "phobia/fear" is misused (instead of a more appropriate word such as... better to let you decide!)

    So, read the paraphrased title of this comment...

    Not every problem needs a technological solution...

    Nor every problem needs a sociological solution...

    I understand your suggestion, but you have to understand the Japanese people: they have a society they like, and they like it because it lacks... "diversity". One example i like is that if you are in a bar, you can leave you wallet in the chair so you can go to the bath without someone else taking your spot - as a Greek myself i can understand why allowing "diversity" would be against the old people of a society like of the Japanese: in Greece, the most common victim of criminals are old people, suffering almost exclusively by our newly imported "diversity"...

  14. exoskeleton by bugs2squash · · Score: 1

    I'd like to see more medical exoskeletons. I could see them getting some people out of wheelchairs and enabling all sorts of mobility. They may not even all need power, just provide support to help people maintain position.

    --
    Nullius in verba
    1. Re:exoskeleton by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      Japan already has a film about that.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    2. Re:exoskeleton by KingAlanI · · Score: 1

      I've heard of exoskeleton tech being theorized for helping soldiers carry equipment. It makes sense that it could also help for other work that could use more strength.

      --
      I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
  15. just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by swell · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm well into my 70s and I have a suggestion worth discussing. Why not let seniors opt out?

    Many that I know would be willing to take the 'deep sleep' pill because they feel that they are a burden to others. They have outlived their usefulness. It's time to go. I may be healthy and active for many more years, but the chances are ever increasing that something may go wrong and my own life will have negative value. I'm willing to bow out.

    So consider your own situation and that of people you know. It's illegal in most places, but should there be an option to 'opt out' for everyone whenever they want?

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
    1. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by arth1 · · Score: 1

      I'm all for making it possible for people to choose to leave with dignity.

      The biggest problem is how to prevent pressure, where those who stand to inherit deliberately or unconsciously create a pressure on people to end their lives. Even if none is intended, elderly people may feel it's expected of them.

      The second biggest problem is disrespect. There are plenty of people, especially among the religious, who are so abhorred by suicide that they will classify anyone contemplating it as mentally unsound, and thus someone who should not be allowed to make the decision. Post hoc ergo propter hoc.
      But even among non-religious people, the fear of death and cultural taboo of suicide has many - quite possibly a great majority - believe that anyone contemplating suicide needs mental help to prevent it. To me, that view seems severely disrespectful.

    2. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by Baron_Yam · · Score: 2, Insightful

      >Many that I know would be willing to take the 'deep sleep' pill because they feel that they are a burden to others. They have outlived their usefulness. It's time to go

      Let me let you in on a little secret - you outlived your usefulness before you were conceived, simply because there's no objective point to existing. Why should your worth be measured by your ability to make life easier for others?

      Subjectively, life is what you make it. As a social primate, your instincts should probably drive you to find some kind of point in life based on having and sharing experiences with others... and being near the end of normal human life expectancy doesn't prevent you from doing that so long as your health is decent.

      >Why not let seniors opt out?

      I would actually say, "Why not let people opt out?". And my response is that we should. But since as best we can tell your unique consciousness gets one go and one only at life, it's probably not a bad idea to make really, really sure people aren't taking a permanent nap to avoid a transitory issue that perhaps could be overcome with some assistance. Eventually you'll die anyway, so ever possible positive second of existence should be enjoyed. Right back to that 'social primate' thingy - empathy, communal care, etc.

      Now, having said all that, please don't ask how I'm making the most of my life, because I'm pretty much a keyboard warrior at work and a couch potato at home.

    3. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by wyHunter · · Score: 2

      In theory this seems like a great idea -and perhaps for some it would be - but I bet more often than not an older person would be pressured to go for euthanasia by greedy heirs so they don't use all "the heirs'" money in a final illness. (Hint, it isn't their money!)

    4. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Most people who attempt and fail at suicide never try again, and many wind up extremely grateful that they didn't quite make it. Only about 4% of suicides are successful, and suicide is a leading cause of death among teenagers -- not really the target audience we're talking about, but an important consideration. If someone is considering suicide because they're old and want to avoid a couple years of medical bills and suffering, great. If someone is considering suicide because they're a teenager and their girlfriend broke up with them, it's appropriate to direct them to counseling.
       
      https://save.org/about-suicide/preventing-suicide/

    5. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by arth1 · · Score: 1

      Most people who attempt and fail at suicide never try again

      And how much of that is due to the amount of guilt others pour onto them?

      If someone is considering suicide because they're a teenager and their girlfriend broke up with them, it's appropriate to direct them to counseling.

      Why? That seems like you're making an emotional response. Shouldn't a 19 year old be allowed to choose over his or her own life? They're allowed to enlist in the military, so why not take their life and not just risk it? Is it not their own life?
      I find this attitude very condescending and disrespectful.

      Remember, no one who has committed suicide has ever regretted it.

    6. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by swell · · Score: 1

      The latest research suggests that most people, especially male, under age 25 have not completed their brain development to a point where they can make this type of decision rationally. So that's a factor for the law and scientists to consider. But even then, such a person with a painful disease tends to mature quickly and might reasonably be allowed to choose a peaceful end.

      The 'deep sleep' pill is an important factor. People are being very messy and thoughtless in their suicide choices. An international network has promoted a simple plastic bag system that you tighten around your head, but even that is unpleasant for many. The pill is desperately needed.

      Yes, some who lost lovers or family may consider suicide in their grief. Probably not a wise decision but who has the right to interfere? Isn't that the primary question?

      --
      ...omphaloskepsis often...
    7. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Remember, no one who has committed suicide has ever regretted it.

      How do you know? Ever had a conversation with one?

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    8. Re:just say no to pain, suffering, dementia... by arth1 · · Score: 1

      How do you know? Ever had a conversation with one?

      I haven't had a conversation with a god either, nor with a green skinned triple-breasted lady from Andromeda. The null hypothesis is that neither exist.

  16. Roujin Z/Project Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1991 called, and they want their concept back.

  17. Logans Run by Zorro · · Score: 1

    I see your life crystal has turned black, time to renew at Carousel.

  18. Roujin Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone remember that charming little anime from about 25 years ago? I, for one, would love to see hordes of demented geriatrics in exosuits bombing around Tokyo.

  19. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  20. Healthier people have better quality of life by rsilvergun · · Score: 2

    even as they age. There's a point where that's not true, but if you're living well you won't hit that until 70 unless your genetics suck (which for most Japanese they don't).

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  21. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not every problem needs a technological solution...

    True, for any problem that is currently solved by throwing one more more humans at it, a technological solution is always an improvement.

    Not sure how any of this could possibly relate to xenophobia. Why did you bring that up? Smells off-topic.

  22. Re:I'm in if.... by arth1 · · Score: 1

    If there was an option for a Logan's Run affair, I think in my mid 80's I'd be willing to go out in style. Sign up as a Runner and have the Sandmen chase me and with nothing to lose, it could be entertaining for the masses glued to their digital organs they call smartphones.

    In your mid-80s, it might not be much of a "chase", just saying.
    Opting for carousel might be a better option. You get to fly.
    And there's always the Box option.

  23. Because by and large life sucks by rsilvergun · · Score: 1

    and gets worse daily for all but a lucky few. Suicide has to be taboo or we'd have worker shortages. Either that or we'd have to treat people better. It's why you get stuff like this.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
  24. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by tonywong · · Score: 1

    Mod parent up.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/02/news/japanborn-koreans-live-in-limbo.html

    https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/05/07/national/media-national/japans-resident-koreans-endure-climate-hate/

  25. Re:How about you work on your Greek? by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

    the most common victim of criminals are old people, suffering almost exclusively by our newly imported "diversity"...

    Because Greece has done such a great job for its elderly population on its own.

    --
    We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
  26. Re:How about you work on your Greek? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The article you link as a reply to my anti-immigration point has the title 'Greece Among Worst Countries In Europe For The Elderly, Study Finds' and the subtitle 'Pension austerity cuts imposed on “older people is a serious violation of their rights.”'. I don't think it is relevant, but i can counter-argue that adding injury (the crime and other problems the newly imported "diversity" has caused to Greeks) to insult (the "pension austerity cuts" you point) is not a good pro-diversity argument...

    I am a Greek living in Greece and i can testify that the (nececery in my opinion) financial austerity is not the big problem (we are still, in our current mess, among the 30 most wealthy countries, something most people miss...) - the big social (and financial to some extend) problem in my country is the invation of "diversity"!

  27. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

    The only suicide of a nation is people like you, dedicated to being a backward isolationist Klan outlet

  28. Re: Bring in third world immigrants instead! by sound+vision · · Score: 1

    Provide a decent wage, healthcare, and ignore nonviolent drug offenses, and I'm sure you could dig up 300,000 white Americans *easy* for a free trip to Japan. If the Japanese really care about the problem, and robot bathroom timers aren't enough to compensate for the lack of people... They have only to overcome their xenophobia.

  29. Re:How about they work on their xenophobia?? by KingAlanI · · Score: 1

    Immigrant labor is an alternative to labor saving technology, and xenophobia often comes with that, so it does seem related to me. Without getting into the validity or lack thereof of anti-immigrant arguments, it's a fact that they crop up.

    --
    I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.
  30. Say this to Mr. Roboto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tasukete, watashi wa taorete shimai, watashi wa tachiagaru koto ga dekimasen!

  31. Wanting the human touch. by swamp_ig · · Score: 1

    They can want the human touch all they like, but as long as caring remains a poorly paid and unpleasant job they ain't gonna get it.

    For sure they can import Phillipnio slave girls to do it, but that's just poor form IMHO.

    Pay carers well and the problem fades.