Science, technology and AI combine as lifelong learning is embraced

Despite most aged care residents thinking they would have left school behind them decades ago, a group of Melbourne residents have been brushing up on their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) with a little help from an artificial intelligence (AI) robot.

It’s an innovative and intriguing experience showcasing how aged care activities can find influence from anywhere.

Allity’s Montclaire residential home (part of the Bolton Clarke Group) is at the centre of the program where Lifestyle Coordinator Julie Roppola has organised classes for residents based on the Victorian Year 12 STEM program. Just like the students studying STEM at high school, it offers a chance to investigate and strengthen interests in topics residents may or may not be overly familiar with. 

“We have so many intelligent people in the home: pilots, engineers, doctors with a PhD. We are encouraged as Lifestyle/Diversional Therapists to be person-centred so it made sense to bring back and relive/remind our residents of the things they learnt at school, Uni or work and support other residents to also engage and explore things that might be new to them,” Ms Roppola told hello leaders.

“We all love to learn and be engaged and we can learn from each other. We can do this no matter what age we are.”

Lifelong learning and active ageing have been touted as incredibly beneficial for ageing individuals with positive impacts on cognitive function, health and well-being. The STEM program Ms Roppola manages is centred on getting residents to think, recall and remember what they once learned and to learn something new. 

This could be the way something works or why things work the way they do. She said the interactive nature makes it a fun experience for everyone involved. 

“STEM is about making science and technology more engaging and fun. My grade nine daughter went to see 3D printing, and I thought why can’t we? When I spoke to the residents they asked, ‘What is 3-D printing?’… when I was trying to explain the concept to our residents I realised it might be easier to see it in action so we went to the local Brighton Library.”

The residents themselves are often in the driver’s seat, too. So even though there are projects and ideas to be found online, Ms Roppola said it’s the residents who inspire the next topic. Their desire to learn more and share stories about their lives plays a key role in the experience. 

When learning and technology combine

Although you certainly don’t need a huge budget for STEM learning – one project involved making an artificial heart and lung with a plastic cup, straws and balloons – the fact that advanced technology is far more accessible has allowed providers to participate in innovative trials and research. This is what led to the arrival of Abi, an AI robot produced by Andromeda Robotics. 

Abi is a prototype humanoid companion robot that’s roughly the same size as the average seven-year-old. They can recognise residents, answer questions and engage in evolving conversations based on previous interactions and AI input like Chat GPT. 

Abi has spent time with the residents at Montclaire as part of their STEM classes, but she offers more than just a robotic presence and repetitive one liners: she’s been known to say “Learning is one of life’s great experiences” and “Elderly people have knowledge and life experience in spades. You don’t stop using your grey matter just because you have grey hair.” 

“The impact on residents is to stimulate curiosity and engagement. Overall, the response to Abi has been contagious warmth and delight. Small groups have been effective and one-on-one interactions – it’s wonderful seeing residents delighted by their interactions,” Thena Johnstone, National Pathways Manager, told hello leaders. 

“The conversations are on wide and varied topics. Abi’s Chat GPT response can be cheeky and has also had a sense of humour for laughter with the Residents. One resident asked to marry her, and she politely declined being a robot.”

Behind the scenes, the 120cm robot has received input from animation studios DreamWorks and Pixar to show engaging and empathetic body language. For many residents she is the living embodiment of science fiction from their childhood books and television shows they would have watched in later years. 

Now, she’s visiting weekly or fortnightly and resident feedback is guiding Abi’s development.

“The residents are engaging and a sense of familiarity begins to develop, where Abi becomes almost like another human interaction. You can see when she settles she will become a normal feature of their activities,” Ms Johnstone added. 

Andromeda’s goal over the next 18 months is to develop a fully functional robot that will be available on the mainstream market, but for Allity, the focus is on engagement and learning with their residents. Even though they don’t plan for AI robots like Abi to be a companion for every resident, she is providing some amazing benefits and positive outcomes.