Healthcare for the ageing and elderly worldwide is turning to robots

A woman wearing a Cyberdyne lumbar robotic suit, which is designed to help her walk, gets assistance from caregiver Asami Konishi.

In America and other ageing societies around the world, it has become common for the elderly to be cared for by their greying children or older workers. That’s largely because the younger labour force is shrinking, and few want to do such low-paying, back-aching work.

Japan sees an answer in robots. At Minami Tsukuba nursing home near Tokyo, caregiver Asami Konishi wears a robotic device on her hips that cuts the stress on her back when she bends and lifts someone. “It really helps when I have to pick up a heavier male patient,” said the 34-year-old.