Blake Huegel, an entrepreneur based in Vancouver, Washington, has spent more than a decade dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality assisted living services for seniors. As founder and operator of Cedar Highlands Care and later the Belamour Care network, he has overseen the expansion of six residential care homes specializing in memory care for individuals with dementia and assisted living support for residents with paralysis or mobility limitations. His leadership includes supervising caregiving teams, designing supportive care environments, and advocating for person-centered approaches that honor seniors’ dignity. With a background in physical therapy and hands-on experience supporting vulnerable populations, Blake Huegel closely follows developments in health care innovation—particularly technologies that may supplement staffing shortages and enhance residents’ independence. His work in senior care offers a grounded perspective on the emerging role of robotics and artificial intelligence in supporting aging populations.
Researchers Explore Robot and AI Uses in Senior Care
American health care for seniors is facing a dilemma. As the elderly population grows, a shortage of caregivers is creating a care gap. Experts predict that robots and AI will fill begin to gaps in health care as the senior population outpaces the number of available medical professionals.
This technology is a decade away from full development. However, innovations in AI-powered technology are poised to provide hands-on care, such as lifting or bathing a person. Additionally, researchers are developing technologies that will enable robots to assist seniors with routine chores, conduct wellness check-ins, and fetch small items. As it stands, hospitals and senior living facilities are already used to deliver meals, transport lines, and carry medical supplies. Experts believe that robotics innovation can help health care providers with other complicated activities.
An August 2023 article in the journal Cureus describes the many ways robots can assist seniors, enabling them to be more independent. Ideally, AI-powered systems will be an integrated part of senior care, including technologies such as fall detection, medication management, and emergency alerts. Furthermore, seniors might have AI-powered technologies and robots in the home to assist them with more complex activities, such as decision-making, safety risk prevention, health practices, and medical recommendations. Ultimately, AI-powered technologies will give seniors a greater level of independence.
While nothing can replace human interaction, robots can also serve a social purpose. Seniors are vulnerable to social isolation because they are typically less mobile than when they were younger. A social robot can engage seniors in conversation, play games, and assist with reminiscence therapy. These robots provide seniors with companionship and improve their cognitive function. In fact, research has shown that seniors with dementia improved their brain stimulation after receiving companion robotic animals.
Robots, AI, and other assistive technologies also have a place in helping seniors as part of rehabilitative care. In addition to helping seniors through therapy, these robotic technologies offer emotional, practical, or material assistance as part of social and interpersonal interactions. They can alleviate the need for nursing staff in long-term care facilities.
As long as AI and robotics have existed, there have been ethical challenges. In this case, there are multiple considerations for researchers and health care professionals to make. For one, robotics and AI are information-gathering tools that could access the most private parts of seniors’ lives. Today, AI gathers information, but not to the extent that a robot living with a senior would. Developers would need to implement robust security measures and establish clear consent procedures to ensure seniors’ privacy rights are protected.
Cloud technologies are integral to technological networks. While most are safe, they are not impervious to hacking or other attacks. The cloud enables organizations to access real-time information across a network, and in some cases across multiple integrated networks. To protect against this, health care organizations will need to implement robust security measures that reduce the incidence and risk of cyberattacks.
Finally, researchers must understand that interacting with robots on a social level might interfere with human connections. Over-reliance on AI might interfere with seniors’ engagement with humans. In addition, robots’ decision-making abilities might interfere with seniors’ ability to make independent decisions, increasing the likelihood of confusion, caregiver dishonesty, and infantilization. Again, established guidelines that ensure robots only have assistive roles will help protect patients from harm.
About Blake Huegel
Blake Huegel is the founder and operator of Belamour Care and Cedar Highlands Care in Vancouver, Washington. With a background in physical therapy and more than a decade of experience in assisted living and memory care, he oversees caregiving teams, facility operations, and resident support. A recipient of Park College’s Rising Star and Business Entrepreneurship Awards, he remains committed to improving quality of life for seniors while staying attuned to innovations that may shape the future of elder care.
