Robots comfort seniors at care center

CHONGQING — A new type of robot has landed a job at an eldercare service center in Chongqing, thanks to its knack for handling the complex emotional needs of seniors.

The First Social Welfare Home of Chongqing described Peipei, the robot, as gentle, patient and good at listening and an eloquent caregiver. "If you have any questions, just ask Peipei. She can answer anything," said an 86-yearold senior in the home, who gave her surname as Wang. The resident has often interacted with the robot, from chatting to playing games, or even asking Peipei to take photos of her and remove any signs of aging in them.

Wang said Peipei is emotionally exquisite, not only answering questions, but also taking the initiative to care about her. For example, the robot can notice when she hasn't been sleeping well or is in a bad mood. The robot comforts her, reminding her that her granddaughter, who is studying abroad, might not be able to visit often, but she makes a video call every week.