Sci/Tech Japan is running out of people to take care of the elderly, so it's making robots instead

[tom_mai78101]

Countries around the world are grappling with how to care for a growing population of elderly people.

The percentage of the US population aged 65 or older is currently at 13%, but that number is expected to nearly double by 2050, according to the Pew Research Center.

But the United States isn’t even close to the oldest nation in the world — that title is reserved for Japan.

In fact, 20% of Japan’s current population is 65 or older.

But as countries witness a climbing number of seniors, the amount of caregivers remains stagnant.

This is particularly a problem in Japan, as a nearly 300-page Merrill Lynch report projects a shortage of 1 million caregivers by 2025 for the country.

To address the issue, Japanese companies are leading in the development of Carebots.

Carebots are robots specifically designed to assist elderly people, and it’s an industry that’s growing in a big way. One-third of the Japanese government’s budget is allocated to developing carebots.

Japan is running out of people to take care of the elderly, so it's making robots instead

They're called carebots.

www.businessinsider.com

 

[Accname]

One third? Cant believe that. Thats an incredible sum of money for just a single purpose.
On the other hand, why not import slave labor from poor countries?

 

[Varine]

I've heard that before, it does seem like a lot but it is Japan and they are fucking weird.