Technology company Labrador Systems announced on Wednesday that it is beginning rollout of its new assistive robots that will help seniors and others who need help with their daily lives, technology that could transform personal care. elderly.

The Labrador Retriever Personal Robot looks like a moving cart with top and bottom trays. The self-contained machine aims to facilitate the daily activities of the elderly by carrying people’s essentials within easy reach.

The technology was developed to tackle a growing problem – a burgeoning elderly population in the United States that is only expected to grow.

Mike Dooley, CEO of Labrador Systems, said “the burden on caregivers is increasing at a rate that is simply not sustainable”.

“Organizations are already experiencing significant shortages of caregivers, and in the years to come there will be many more people 85 and older with fewer people to help care for them,” Dooley said in a communicated. “Our mission is to provide relief on both sides of this equation, empowering people in need of care to do more on their own while extending the impact of each caregiver’s visit far beyond the when they are physically present.”

The Labrador Retriever was first introduced at a technology convention in January. A video of how it works can be viewed here. The assisting robot can carry large loads like a laundry basket and can be easily activated by users with a smartphone for delivery services.

The Labrador Retriever Pro, a more advanced version of the standard model, is initially being rolled out as a service only to senior care homes and senior living organizations. The standard Labrador Retriever is still being tested.

Organizations that will purchase a fleet of assistive robots include: Lok PACE, Nationwide Insurance, Masonic Homes of California, Western Homes Communities, Eskaton, The Perfect Companion, Presbyterian Villages of Michigan, University of Michigan Flint, and Graceworks Lutheran Services.

Michael Webb, chief technology officer at On Lok, a full-service senior care program, said he was “delighted to be one of the first healthcare organizations to introduce the Retriever Pro into homes and continue to pioneer the future of care”.

“We are constantly looking for opportunities to improve the support we provide to older people and provide excellent quality care to help them age with dignity,” added Webb.

The median age of the US population is expected to rise from 38 to 40 by 2060, according to the US Census Bureau.

Over the same period, the ratio of working-age adults to retirement-age adults is also projected to rise from three and a half working-age adults for every person of retirement age to two years and a half. half.