A robot named Robbie is helping a Durham, New Hampshire couple manage daily life, offering a glimpse into the future of home caregiving for dementia patients. - Robbie, a Stretch 4 robot, assists Brian Marquis, who has dementia and a traumatic brain injury, with exercise, meal reminders, and hygiene prompts.
- The robot is piloted by a University of New Hampshire lab and funded by the National Institute on Aging. - Brenda Marquis, who uses a wheelchair, says Robbie frees her from hours of daily care and allows her to leave home.
- The robot costs nearly $30,000 and is designed for practical, mobile assistance, unlike humanoid robots. The Marquis family's experience shows that even a simple, non-humanoid robot can significantly improve quality of life for people with disabilities and their caregivers.