That would be lovely, considering the staffing shortages, assuming it doesn't deprive people of their remaining autonomy – when you start doing things for old folks, they tend to lose the capacity to do it themselves, surprisingly quickly.
There's already lots of tech in nursing homes to make transferring people easier on the caregivers, but full automation would be great.
But beyond that, getting people out of bed is one thing. Undressed, washed, skin treatments applied, dressed is another.
How many relatives did you have in a nursing home? People being forced to live there because they typically can't live at home any more, are deprived of social contact. Staff has only minutes to do the most necessary things and rush on to the next. Full automation would be hell. People are social, even if they often don't admit it. Have you ever seen the eyes of an old person getting a gentle back rub and a little conversation? Don't try to take that away.
I'm not sure if you meant to respond to me or someone else. Or maybe my response wasn't clear. No problem either way.
I don't think full automation of carer duties is going to come anytime soon. It's far too technical and delicate. And absolutely provides psychological benefits for residents, as you said.
What would be great is if technology could provide even more help for transferring folks from one place to another securely. Lots of elderly people fall. And lots of carers get injured when they try to stop elderly people from falling.
Edit: Maybe it's the word "transfer" that's wrong and causing the misunderstanding. It probably sounds like the old people get put on a conveyor belt or something. "Transfert" is the word used in French nursing homes for helping a person get – say – from their bed to the toilet or to their recliner. And it's risky for everyone involved.
Actually I wanted to reply to you. Now with your explanation I understand better and we have no disagreement in fact. Thank you!
I wish more care givers would learn kinaesthetics (speaking from my own experience). It makes transfers easier for both and you can help people in ways you never thought were possible.
We have the luck to have some physios specialized to it in the vicinity. In Germany and some other European countries there is the Kinaesthetics Association [0], we contacted them for trainings nearby [1].
Amazing. This send to be a German/Suisse thing? Did not realize that until today.
The principle is to use the bones to carry weight and lots of pivots around natural joints so you don't need so much muscle force (while pivoting only to guide, not to lift).
An eye opening exercise was to sit as relaxed as possible on a chair and concentrate on what muscles you use when starting to stand up. You don't push up for a long time actually, but lean forward until the center of gravity of your whole body is above the rectangle your feet form. Only then you can start pushing up. Try it as slowly as possible and feel every single muscle participating.
So if you help a sitting person, don't try to pull up, but help leaning forward and find the point where the butt starts feeling "lighter". Then the person can concentrate on helping pushing up with the legs.
Also we worked in pairs to learn that you can synchronize your movements by feeling each other and the cared for person can feel the right moment to spent his/her precious muscle force and not work against you. Your tension starts a tiny moment before the actual movement and if that can be perceived, you can literally join your forces.
There's already lots of tech in nursing homes to make transferring people easier on the caregivers, but full automation would be great.
But beyond that, getting people out of bed is one thing. Undressed, washed, skin treatments applied, dressed is another.