Carers given a helping ‘robotic’ hand

A ‘hair-washing’ robot, which cares for the locks of the elderly and infirm, is reported to be the latest robotic technology that may help replace human caregivers in Japan’s rapidly ageing nation.

Panasonic, creators of the Japan-made robot, claim the device will not “degrade the quality of the caring service”.

“Using robotic hand technology, and 24 robotic fingers, this robot can wash the hair of the handicapped in the way human hands do in order to help them to have better daily lives,” developer, Tohru Nakamura, tells Reuters news.

The robot works as the customer leans back in what looks like a regular salon chair, over a sink, and the machine – upgraded from a 16-fingered version – shampoos, massages and rinses the scalp in about three minutes. Conditioning and a blow-dry take an additional five minutes for the grooming process to finish.

Mr Nakamura and his team promise to develop more caregiving technologies for the elderly or handicapped, which they hope to export to other ageing societies across the globe.

While the hair-washing machine is not yet available to consumers, Panasonic has plans to commence sales sometime next year, and their first target is reportedly nursing homes and hospitals.

What are your thoughts on this ‘hair-washing’ robot? Would you like to see more caregiving technologies developed and introduced to Australian aged care facilities? Share your thoughts by commenting in the box below.