Misty II, a robot for improving the quality of life of the elderly living alone

admin on 8 February 2020

Foto: Barcelona City Council

A robot that moves and interacts with the elderly and offers them support, assistance, and surveillance by asking them questions about their daily habits (medication, cleaning, eating, etc.) or how do they feel. It can also track or search for users, and it may enable videoconferences with medical services or other services as needed.

The city of Barcelona is carrying out a pilot test with this robot of the Lleida-based company Saltó Group, in some twenty homes for the elderly, in order to study how far the robot can improve the quality of life and the well-being of people with some kind of dependency, as well as of the caregivers through the assistance of this social robot. It will study, among other things, whether the robot helps to reduce the isolation of the elderly, whether it is used to monitor their health, or if it is useful to improve patient-adherence to medication medication or attendance to medical visits.

The project also seeks fairness in the care of the elderly so that not only those with a family network or those with higher purchasing power are receiving the right care.

Characteristics of innovation

Aging, Bank of innovations, Independent living, Lab, New technological tool, Pilot project, Prediction and prevention, Proximity care

Location

Barcelona

Partners / Funders

Barcelona Mobile World Capital Foundation

Genesis

In 2019 Barcelona Mobile World Capital Foundation launched challenge “ How to improve the quality of life of older people through technology ”, to which 53 nominations from 14 countries were submitted. One of the two winning projects was the SOMCARE project, promoted by Saltó Group, which had adapted a small personal robot, called Misty II, developed by tMisty Robotics Co., Boulder, Colorado, USA.

Implementation level

There are 4 robots available for the pilot test which will be moved from home to home every two months until February of 2021. In total, then, there will be 24 users during the pilot test. Municipal staff will evaluate the circumstances of the users before and after cohabitation with the robot, as well as the situation of the caregivers involved in the care process. If the results are positive, the possibility of progressively extending the use of the robot to more homes in the city will be considered.

Further information

Propose your innovation

See our selection of innovations

Banc d’innovacions

Cuppa, virtual meetups for unpaid carers

Cuppa is a video call program aimed at carers with the goal of sharing experiences and building community.

ATENEA, device adapted to combat the digital divide

ATENEA is an adapted device that contributes to the digital and technological transformation of social services, focusing on the most vulnerable citizens

IWI Project, a support program for families seeking to improve their well-being

The IWI Project is a program that provides support to families with minors in their care who detect difficulties within their own homes and wish to address them in a community-based manner.

Virtual Metaverse to Improve Daily Skills of People with Intellectual Disabilities

Plena Inclusión Aragón and Cooperativa Kairós’ metaverse is an avatar that enables learning daily skills to enhance the autonomy of people with intellectual disabilities

Energy Control, a drug analysis service to reduce risks

Energy Control is a drug analysis program that promotes responsible consumption

Predictive Telecare Service in Home Care

The Adinberri Foundation has launched a telecare service that enables anticipation and action through a personalized intervention plan based on the 4P model: prediction, prevention, personalization, and participation.

Nelson Mandela, a program for reintegration to life in freedom

admin on 16 January 2020

by whereslugo on Unsplash

Program for the social reintegration of ex-prisoners, which offers personalized itineraries tailored to the needs of each participant, with both technical and personal preparation, as well as training and support activities for work integration. The goal is for those who have been released from prison to expand their competencies and improve their personal and professional skills to help them on their path to full inclusion.

The program is part of the Social Inclusion Strategy of Galicia 2014-2020, designed and funded by the Xunta de Galicia and the European Social Fund. It has been developed so far in a single prison, Teixeiro, and has benefited more than 1,500 inmates.

Aprendiendo a vivir en libertad