Healthcare Robots and Smart Hospital Based on Human-Robot Interaction

This chapter first introduces the research on next-generation care systems and stations that the author’s group has actually conducted. Next, the development trends, challenges, and prospects for smart hospitals, which aim to improve overall hospital efficiency based on CPS technologies such as sensing, IoT, AI, and big data processing, in addition to robotics and control technologies, toward the realization of Society 5.0, are described. Third, the concept of the smart hospital and discussion will be explained to provide basic knowledge for its construction. Finally, future scope and conclusion will be described

Effects of Nurse and Care Worker-led Foot-Care Program on Older People's Foot Conditions: Before and After Intervention Study

Introduction: An increasing number of older people with frailty in Japan use geriatric day care centers. Older people who have been certified as requiring long-term care attend centers during the day and receive nursing care help with bathing, excretion, meals, and functional training services. Many older people have foot problems with need foot care by nurses and care workers (NCWs) at geriatric day care centers.Objective: This study explored the effects of NCWs' foot-care programs on the foot conditions of older people attending daytime services.Methods: A before-after intervention study was conducted at geriatric day care centers for older people, where the footcare program was presented by NCWs for two months. The foot conditions of 23 clients (8 men, 15 women, mean age= 78.6 years, standard deviation = 9.2) were assessed before and after the program. Changes in foot condition and clients' perceptions after the study were analyzed through descriptive statistics, McNemar, and paired t-tests.Results: Although dramatic changes in foot conditions were not observed, some conditions were improved or maintained. Changes were observed in mean dry skin scores (p 1.1, left foot: 1.6 -> 1.1), skin lesions and long nails (skin lesions R: 0.2 -> 0.1; long nail R: 1.4 -> 1.0 L: 1.1 -> 0.8), and edema (R: 43.5%-> 39.1%, L: 52.2%-> 47.8%). Further, clients started perceiving that foot health is important and discussed their feet with staff more often.Conclusion: The NCWs' foot-care program was effective in maintaining and improving foot health in older people and positively affected their perception of foot care

Foot Problems and Their Associations with Toe Grip Strength and Walking Speed in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals Using Day Services: A Cross-Sectional Study

Foot disorders in older individuals compromise balance and contribute to postural and gait instabilities, causing a decrease in the activities of daily living and quality of life. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the foot-related data of 160 frail older participants who attended day service centers in A prefecture in Japan to determine the prevalence of foot problems and their associations with toe grip strength and walking speed in frail older people. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify foot-related variables that correlated with toe grip strength and walking speed. The prevalence rates of skin dryness (Support level 88.2%, Care level 85.2% for men; Support level 84.9%, Care level 93% for women) and suspected and existing fungal infections in nails (Support level 94.1%, Care level 92.6% for men; Support level 98.1%, Care level 95.2% for women) were high in both sexes regardless of the level of care required. Furthermore, in both sexes, the prevalence rates of toe and arch deformities were significantly increased in the people who required care. Regression analysis revealed that some right-sided foot-related problems were significantly associated with right toe grip strength and walking speed. The decrease in toe grip strength was significantly associated with walking speed. Our study provides evidence that some specific conditions were associated with toe grip force and walking speed. This finding can contribute to future strategies to protect foot health in community-dwelling older individuals