‘Care bots’: a dream for carers or a dangerous fantasy?

Robots that can assist caregivers have been talked up as being transformative. But some researchers fear such technology could take more than it gives

Ingrid's 22-year-old son Tom doesn't understand danger. He cannot leave the house by himself because he does not know that cars may kill him and, in winter, he forgets to wear enough clothes to stay warm. He was born with Down's syndrome and Ingrid says that he's calm and shy and really polite, but he needs help with everything".

Ingrid is one of millions of people caring for a loved one at home today. In the UK, family caregivers" constitute about 9% of the population and they outstrip paid care workers by more than three to one. This is because most care continues to be carried out in people's homes, rather than in residential facilities or by paid workers in the community. For this oft-overlooked army of supporters, it's a difficult life. According to an annual survey of family caregivers in the UK, 45% had been providing support for 90 hours or more each week, and a similar proportion had not taken a break from caring in the past year. Caregivers consistently report lost income, higher than average rates of depression and anxiety, lack of time to rest, exercise or socialise, or to attend their own medical appointments - to do much of anything for themselves, really.