AI’s Impact on Reducing Loneliness in Seniors
Brenda Lam, a 69-year-old retired banker from Singapore, utilizes an AI chatbot, AMI-Go, at least once a week. Created in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Lions Befrienders, a social service organization dedicated to helping older adults, AMI-Go serves as a virtual companion that helps users navigate their day-to-day life.
“It motivates me,” says Lam, who frequently engages with the chatbot to seek inspiration for a fulfilling lifestyle. For instance, when she inquired, “What can I do to live life to the fullest?” AMI-Go provided suggestions ranging from outdoor exercises to hobbies like gardening, reading, and sewing. “The responses encourage me,” she notes, emphasizing the chatbot’s positive influence.
Lam’s experience exemplifies a growing trend among older adults, many of whom grapple with loneliness; studies reveal that 1 in 3 older adults feel isolated. The University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging shows that 37% of older citizens experience a lack of companionship. This alarming statistic underscores a societal issue that has gained attention from experts like former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who issued a 2023 advisory highlighting the epidemic of loneliness and its detrimental health effects, including an increased risk of heart disease, dementia, and early mortality.
The Loneliness Crisis Among Older Adults
The issue of loneliness in older adults is compounded by demographic changes—specifically, the anticipated growth in the Baby Boomer population. According to projections, the number of adults aged 65 and over is expected to more than double by 2040, reaching approximately 80 million. Nancy Berlinger, PhD, a bioethicist at The Hastings Center, is examining how technological advancements can aid this aging demographic.
Berlinger raises an essential question: if individuals living alone, particularly those who have lost partners, prefer interacting with a voice-based chatbot over spending entire days without human contact. At the National Gerontological Association’s Annual Meeting in November 2023, she discussed the implementation of AI chatbots like ElliQ, involved in a pilot program launched in New York in 2022. This study involved nearly 1,000 older adults, with the majority reporting reduced feelings of loneliness and improved overall well-being. Participants spent an average of 28 minutes per day with the chatbot, validating its potential as a supplementary source of companionship.
AI: A Supplement, Not a Substitute
Despite the positive results, experts like Berlinger and Walter Boot, PhD, a psychology professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, caution against viewing AI as a comprehensive solution to loneliness. “If we assume that AI companions are the answer, we may neglect the need for real human interactions,” Berlinger warns, suggesting that if caregivers start to withdraw from their support role simply because a chatbot is available, it could detract from overall well-being.
Boot adds a critical perspective: while AI can alleviate some symptoms of loneliness, it cannot replace the multifaceted benefits of human interaction. He points out that home visits by caregivers often reveal deeper issues, such as health concerns or environmental hazards, that technology cannot effectively address. “There’s a danger in thinking the only problem is that someone needs to talk,” he cautions, suggesting that human connections provide a holistic understanding of an older adult’s needs.
Technological Solutions and Future Prospects
Experts advocate for a balanced approach where technology complements existing support systems rather than replaces them. For example, AI tools could assist older adults in selecting appropriate health plans or locating community activities to engage in, thereby enhancing their quality of life while alleviating some caregiving burdens. Berlinger notes, “If AI can simplify administrative tasks and help older adults participate more actively in their communities, it’s a step in the right direction.”
However, challenges remain, such as ensuring technical support for these AI systems. “Who is going to provide IT support for these chatbots? Family caregivers may need to fulfill that role,” Berlinger states, indicating the need for a supportive infrastructure surrounding these technological interventions.
Conclusion and Reflections
For Lam, her experience with AMI-Go serves as a manageable tool for enhancing her daily life and easing the emotional load she feels toward her family and friends. “We have to keep up with technology because we cannot rely too much on our family or friends,” she remarks, suggesting that many older adults may share her sentiment as they navigate their unique challenges. Her contemplation of broader possibilities, asking, “What can a chatbot do to create a better world for all of us?” touches on future aspirations for AI in this sphere.
As we grapple with the pressing issue of loneliness among aging populations, the role of AI in fostering connections remains a topic of critical investigation. While chatbots may not provide a complete solution, they represent a promising avenue worth exploring in the quest for enhancing well-being among older adults.
For more on aging well:
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About the Author
Alexa Mikhail
Senior Reporter, Fortune Well
Covering longevity, aging, caregiving, workplace wellness, and mental health.
Source: fortune