Jennifer Martindale-Adams, EdD, and Linda Nichols, PhD, professors in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, are members of a team led by Xiaopeng Zhao, PhD, professor at the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, which recently received a $401,090 grant from the National Institute on Aging to develop the RISE project, “Robot-based Information and Support to Enhance Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health.”
This project aims to create RISE, an AI-powered system used through a humanoid social robot, to assist caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and provide evidence-based training information for caregivers.
Dr. Martindale-Adams and Dr. Nichols are also co-directors of the UTHSC Caregiver Center and the VA National Caregiver Center, located at Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center.
We need to have a human with the caregiver to do the training that we do, otherwise the caregiver has to try to go online – and then it may not be targeted to exactly what he or she needs. This concept with the AI is only based on validated, good information that we have developed that is specific to what the healthcare provider is interested in. It is personalized to what the caregiver needs.”
Dr. Linda Nichols, PhD, Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center
With the multi-year grant, the project aims to provide support to the healthcare community by offering innovative solutions to some of the challenges healthcare providers experience. The system is equipped with tools from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregivers Health (REACH) II, REACH Community, and REACH VA programs. The robot will provide REACH information on dealing with behavioral problems, caregiver stress and how to manage these problems.
“I’m excited about the future because now people go into their doctor’s office and there’s really no way to help them because doctors don’t have time to work with healthcare providers,” said Dr. Nichols. “Sometimes caregivers need more, they need someone to talk to, and they need someone to give them information.”
Dr. Martindale-Adams and Dr. Nichols said they see the possibility of this system being available in doctors’ offices, community centers and other areas where healthcare providers can get the help they need when no one is available to help them.
“With this model we have a risk assessment that we have been using in our REACH program for thirty years. We can use that in the robot. The healthcare provider can answer questions so that when the risk assessment is done, there will be a list of modules that will be recommended based on the risk assessment,” said Dr. Martindale Adams. “More individualized is the way it will be available because they will have answered questions, then the AI will be able to figure out what was most important, what they answered and what they were concerned about, and then it can create modules proposals to review.”
“It’s caregiver-driven, and that’s what I like about everything we do, that it’s caregiver-driven,” said Dr. Nichols.
“Sometimes when we get a diagnosis from the doctor and we’re sent out and handed a pamphlet, you’re overwhelmed,” said Dr. Martindale Adams. “So to be able to just sit there and have the robot be very friendly, give you information, ask questions and answer your questions. I think that’s what’s exciting because it could happen in a senior center or a doctor’s office.” office that they could be put in a room and have time to have questions answered.”
Dr. Zhao’s team also includes Wenjun Zhou, Lawson Professor of Business at the Haslam College of Business, and Sharon Bowland, associate professor in the College of Social Work at UT Knoxville. The project has also received support from Dottie Lyvers, director of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee’s Office on Aging.
Dr. Martindale-Adams and Dr. Nichols said they are excited to work with UT Knoxville faculty members.