Imagine a robot that not only reminds you to take your medication, but helps you navigate your home and offers companionship. This type of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered technology could be a reality for seniors in the not-too-distant future.
An interdisciplinary team at Case Western Reserve University hopes to find out-in detail-what that future might look like. Researchers from the university's Weatherhead School of Management, School of Medicine and College of Arts and Sciences are exploring how AI and robotic technology can improve caregiving and support for older adults-particularly those with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD).
At the center of their study is the robot researchers are calling Ruyi, developed by NaviGait, using advanced sensors, AI-driven mobility monitoring and interactive features to assist older adults at Judson Senior Living in Cleveland. The goal is to see whether the robots can make life easier for seniors.
The wheeled robot, standing about 3 feet tall, harkens back to Rosie the Robot, the dependable, dutiful and sometimes sassy maid from the 1960's The Jetsons cartoon. Ruyi will be connected to home technology-such as thermostats and the internet-as well as to human caregivers, providing regular updates on the health and comfort of the residents.
By integrating AI driven robotics into senior care, researchers aim to enhance independence while alleviating some of the burdens on caregivers and healthcare providers, said Philip Cola, professor at both the Weatherhead School and the School of Medicine.
"As cognitive decline progresses, consistent support and companionship become critical," he said. "Our goal is to explore how AI and robotics can create sustainable caregiving solutions that empower individuals while improving overall care management. This isn't about treating Alzheimer's disease-it's about the management of the healthcare."
The research will be structured in three phases:
- Resident and family acceptability : Focus groups with about two-dozen residents at Judson Senior Living, their families and caregivers to assess attitudes toward robotic technology in elder care.
- Technical feature validation: Evaluate the ability of Ruyi to monitor and interact with residents according to its design, safely inhabit and navigate the home environment, and capture reliable data on posture, gait, spoken language and activities. "We want to see how well the robot learns and improves based on its interactions with residents," Cola said.
- Staff and management attitudes: Evaluate the impressions of staff members and other management stakeholders regarding the acceptability and value of the robotic assistant. This may include extended integration, via overnight trials to assess how the robot supports daily routines and enhances quality of life over time. "We want to think of the robots as a companion rather than solely a potential added caregiver," he said, noting that residents will get to name their own robots.
Through this research, the team is investigating how AI-powered robotics can bridge the gap between aging individuals' needs and available caregiving resources. The project is also informing the broader conversation on ethical, human-centered AI applications in healthcare, said co-principal investigator Peter Whitehouse, professor of both neurology and psychiatry in the School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences.
"This isn't just about groundbreaking technology-it's about designing solutions that truly meet the needs of older adults and their caregivers," Whitehouse said. "By combining insights from medicine, management and design, we're taking a fresh approach to one of healthcare's most pressing challenges."
The one-year pilot study is funded through the National Institutes of Health and administered through a larger project through the AI & Technology Collaboratory (AITC) for Aging Research at Johns Hopkins University.
