Summary
Japan is dealing with a growing dementia issue, with an increasing number of seniors wandering off. The government is using technology, like GPS systems and robots, to help manage care for these individuals. New technologies aim to detect dementia early and provide assistance, but human caregivers are still considered essential.
Key Facts
- Around seven million people in Japan have dementia.
- In the previous year, over 18,000 dementia patients wandered from home, and about 500 were later found dead.
- Dementia-related care costs in Japan are expected to reach 14 trillion yen by 2030.
- Japan is using GPS systems to track people who wander and keep them safe.
- Technologies like AI and robots are being developed to detect dementia early and assist in caregiving.
- Robots developed can help with tasks like cooking and laundry.
- Emotional support robots remind users about medication and offer conversation to reduce loneliness.
- While robots assist in care, human connection in caregiving is still vital.
