As we age and the pace of life slows down a bit, we might seek out and value simple things, like connection and comfort, a bit more. Often, however, family and friends may be spread out across miles, which can make that comfort and connection a little harder to come by. The Thrive Center in downtown Louisville is dedicated to finding ways to help people stay comfortable, active, and healthy as they transition to the later stages in life, and have formed partnerships with a number of companies that are focused on fostering a sense of connection through technology. Their showroom offers opportunities to explore a wide variety of assistive and consumer technology that can help us maintain connection and comfort as we grow older.
For many, growing older comes with a sense of isolation. But the Meta Portal is bringing people together in a whole new way. While video calling technology is something that most of us are familiar with, the Meta Portal takes it to the next level with a large viewing screen, user-friendly interface, and a motion-tracking camera that keeps you in the frame as you move, providing an interactive experience that is not too different from an in-person conversation. “We don’t typically think like that person who is maybe lonely and isolated at home or disabled. Not until you are in that position do you think about how a small thing like that can benefit them,” says Sheri Rose, Thrive Center CEO. She and other experts on aging believe that connection to those who are most important to us is important not only to our mental health, but our physical health as well, making the Meta Portal an excellent investment, especially for those who are far from home, or feeling isolated from family.
For some, connection with others can be a challenge, but the social companion robot ElliQ seeks to fill that void and become a friend to the user. Through the use of AI technology, ElliQ interacts with the user, learning our habits and behaviors, and uses what it learns to provide a better experience. Marketed as a “social robot” for aging adults, ElliQ operates with voice commands, which enables it to tell jokes, play games, and interact in advanced ways. During the recent lockdowns, Sheri Rose explains, “the state of New York bought 800 ElliQ’s and distributed them among their older population. The effect was significant. Intuition Robotics, the developers of ElliQ,report not only an 80% decrease in loneliness after using ElliQ, but also evidence that 82% of those using ElliQ remain more mentally active as they age, which can be vital in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
While technology offers many benefits for those staying in their homes as they age, it often comes with a learning curve that can be a challenge to overcome. This is where Caavo comes in. It is a small device that connects directly to a television and allows not only video calling from family and loved ones through the television screen, but also remote access for loved ones to control the television from a phone application. This can provide comfort in knowing that our loved ones are not struggling with changing the channel or the volume on the device. Caavo can also be programmed on a schedule, such as turning on and off at the same time every night, in order to provide a sense of routine and structure for the user.
Perhaps the most adorable product on the market that is fostering connection and comfort for adults as they age is robotic pets. Meant for those who are unable to care for a live pet, whether for personal or residential reasons, Joy For All creates robotic cats and dogs that purr or bark just like the real thing. With built-in sensors and speakers, the pets react to the voice and touch of their owner, and respond to being cuddled and petted. This can be a great solution for those who miss having a furry best friend. Joy For All also makes a robotic bird called the Walker Squawker. This cutie attaches to a walker, and sings when the walker is in motion, providing not only companionship and motivation to keep moving, but also a safety feature so that others can look out for walkers when they are on the move.
Learn More
While the Thrive Center is not a retail space and does not sell any of these products directly, many of the products on display in their showroom offer discount codes for those who discover their devices in the Thrive Center. Sheri Rose is passionate about helping people stay in their homes as they age. “We want people to know about the possibilities of what’s out there,” she explains. To learn more about Thrive and the work they do, visit thrivecenterky.org.
By Vanessa Hutchison
P.S. It’s Heck Getting Old: Solutions To Many Common Health Issues
Leave a Reply