ElliQ
What is ElliQ?
ElliQ is designed for older adults who live alone and would like companionship, support with health and wellness goals, entertainment, and a way to easily connect with family and friends. She is proactive, meaning she will try to engage the older adult throughout the day, suggesting activities such as deep breathing, listening to music, playing games, or having coffee together.
Because ElliQ is an artificial intelligence (AI) device, she also adapts to each individual’s patterns and preferences over time.
Why is O3A doing a pilot project with ElliQ?Partnering with Intuition Robotics is a great opportunity for O3A to evaluate whether ElliQ can help older adults. Our rural area has an even more severe caregiver shortage than other parts of the state and country, along with a larger population of older adults—especially those who live alone. Many also do not have reliable transportation, meaning they are quite isolated.
As technology continues to change and improve rapidly, O3A is at the forefront of investigating how new devices might help the older adults we serve to stay safe and independent in their homes for as long as possible.
ElliQ also addresses a significant and growing problem that especially impacts older adults, and those in rural areas even more: loneliness and social isolation. A recent Advisory from the US Surgeon General looked at a wide range of data and concluded that loneliness and social isolation exacerbate a number of physical as well as mental health issues. In fact, the effects of social isolation have been shown to be equivalent to smoking approximately 15 cigarettes per day. You can read more here at the Health and Human Services website.
O3A has partnered with Intuition Robotics to provide a limited number of ElliQs, free of charge, for individuals age 60+ in Grays Harbor and Pacific Counties. The units will be in place for one year. We’ll collect data to see how often people interact with their ElliQs, how they interact (e.g., have conversations, use health and wellness features, connect with family and friends using the video chat), and how they feel about having their ElliQ in the home. If the results are promising, we hope to seek additional funding to extend the project.
If you meet the criteria below, please contact Michelle Fogus at michelle.fogus@dshs.wa.gov or 360.580.6001 to discuss whether you would be a good fit. A waiting list has been established so that as people exit the project, or more funding is secured, new participants can be enrolled.
Participants must be:
- Age 60 or over
- Live in Grays Harbor or Pacific Counties
- Live alone or spend most of their day alone
- Not have significant cognitive, vision, speech, or hearing difficulties that would interfere with using the ElliQ
- Be willing to commit to at least one month of participation if accepted