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Elder care facilities driven by profit turn to automation, expert says

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Alexandra Stockmar via Unsplash

Elder care is facing rising pressure to cut costs and increase profits. In response, companies are turning more to video surveillance and artificial intelligence.

That warning came out of the final meeting of a state-funded elder care advisory group this week.

Patricia Hunter advocates for seniors as an ombuds for the state. She recently visited an elder care facility that uses a robot to deliver food to residents in their rooms.

“OK, that’s reasonable," Hunter told KUOW. "But once the food is delivered, if it’s delivered to someone with, say, a disability or cognitive memory loss, who’s going to cut up the food? Who’s going to find creative ways to encourage the person to eat?”

Hunter said video surveillance has become more common in long-term care facilities. AI is making it easier for companies to use digital surveillance, rather than human interaction, she said.

Hunter raised this point at the final meeting of the Joint Legislative Committee on Planning for Aging and Disability Issues. The group advises state legislators on elder- and disability-care in Washington state.

The group is shutting down due to lack of state funds — a casualty of a belt-tightening year in Olympia.

“Technology does not replace the skills and compassion of a human caregiver," she told the group at its final meeting. "Combined with AI, technologies can be a benefit to care workers. Policies and laws should encourage the use when it supports the work of the people, but does not replace them. We need more skilled care workers, not less.”

What's driving the change?

Hunter said a lot of long-term care facilities are being bought by real estate investment trusts (REITs) and private equity firms, both of which have strong profit motives.

Some REITs are owned by pensioners, and the profits from long-term care facilities make up part of the pensioners' retirement income.

Lawmakers passed several state laws this year intended to increase care standards in elder care facilities.

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