Griffith University to open Social Robotics and Assistive Technology Lab to improve aged care

How robots can improve care for people in aged care will be the focus this week (25 Nov) at Griffith University’s Social Robotics and Assistive Technology Laboratory opening.

To be held at the Nathan campus on Tuesday 25 November, the lab opening is inviting the public as well as health care professionals, students and researchers to get up close and personal with a whole host of robots currently being trialled in aged, community and acute care facilities in Australia and overseas.

Leading the event will be Professor Wendy Moyle from Griffith Health Institute’s Centre for Health Practice Innovation, and who has been widely publicised for her successful research into how robots can help people with dementia and their carers.

The Social and Assistive Technology Laboratory at Griffith is not only an Australian first, it is visionary in its aims. It will offer a place where the community can engage with the academic community while learning about older people, dementia and the use of technology and robotics.

“It will be a place for individuals and care providers to come for expert advice, as well as to offer expert advice, to try out technologies, and to work together on new proposals and uses for existing technologies,” says Professor Moyle.

“It will also be a place of research and development, where older people, individuals with dementia and carers can assist the advancement of knowledge through involvement in research. In addition, the student community will also be able to join in with these older people and the dementia community to learn from each other about individual needs and opportunities.”

Within 10 years, there is set to be one billion older people worldwide. Australia contributes to this growth where the fastest growing age group are people aged 65 and over who currently constitute 14.4 per cent of the Australian population.

“Professor Moyle and her team are currently conducting one of the largest companion robotic studies and it has received enormous interest from the international community,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian O’Connor.

“To date their research has demonstrated that persons with dementia, as well as staff and family can greatly benefit from the incorporation of social robots into care. Rather than reducing the human element of care, their research demonstrates that social robots are increasing human interaction.”

“The team’s Telepresence robots have enabled families and people living with dementia to connect together no matter where individuals are in the world.”

WHEN: Tuesday 25 November 11-12pm.

WHERE: Griffith Lecture Theatre (N48, 0.14), Nathan Campus, Griffith University.