Japan turns to AI, robot caregivers to tackle dementia crisis

Japan is facing an escalating dementia crisis, with more than 18,000 older people with the condition reported missing last year, and almost 500 later found dead. Police say such incidents have doubled since 2012. Nearly 30 per cent of Japan’s population is now 65 or older, the second-highest proportion globally after Monaco, World Bank data shows.

A shrinking workforce and tight restrictions on foreign care workers are adding pressure to an already strained system. The government now considers dementia one of its most urgent policy challenges. The Health Ministry projects that dementia-related health and social care costs will reach 14 trillion yen by 2030, up from nine trillion yen in 2025.

Technology steps in

The BBC reports that Japan’s most recent national strategy signals a stronger turn toward technology to ease the burden on families and caregivers. GPS-based tools are becoming common across the country: some regions issue wearable tags that alert authorities if a person leaves a designated area, and in some towns, convenience-store workers receive real-time notifications to help locate missing individuals within hours.

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Efforts are also underway to detect dementia earlier. Fujitsu and Acer Medical’s aiGait system uses AI to analyse posture and walking patterns for early warning signs, shuffling, slower turning, and difficulty standing. “Early detection of age-related diseases is key,” says Hidenori Fujiwara, a Fujitsu spokesperson. “If doctors can use motion-capture data, they can intervene earlier and help people remain active for longer.”

Researchers at Waseda University are developing AIREC, a 150kg humanoid robot intended as a future caregiver. It can already assist with tasks such as putting on socks, scrambling eggs, and folding laundry. Scientists hope it will eventually change adult nappies and help prevent bedsores. Other care homes are using existing robots to play music, guide stretching exercises, or monitor patients’ sleep at night.

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Assistant Professor Tamon Miyake cautions that fully interactive robots are still some years away, saying it will take “at least five years” before they can safely work with humans. “It requires full-body sensing and adaptive understanding, how to adjust for each person and situation,” he says.

Emotional-support devices are also proliferating. The 12cm-tall Poketomo robot fits in a pocket or bag, reminds users to take medication, provides weather updates, and offers conversation to reduce isolation. “We’re focusing on social issues… and to use new technology to help solve those problems,” Miho Kagei of Sharp told the BBC.

Still, specialists warn that machines cannot replace human relationships. “Robots should supplement, not substitute, human caregivers,” Miyake said. “While they may take over some tasks, their main role is to assist both caregivers and patients.”

Community solutions

One of the most striking examples of community-based innovation, highlighted by the BBC, is the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders in Sengawa, Tokyo. Founded by Akiko Kanna and inspired by her father’s struggle with dementia, the café employs people living with the condition, giving them a place to stay engaged and feel valued.

Server Toshio Morita uses flowers as cues to remember customers’ orders. Despite his cognitive challenges, he enjoys meeting visitors, and the café provides respite and reassurance for his wife. “Honestly? I wanted a little pocket money. I like meeting all sorts of people,” Mr Morita says. “Everyone’s different, that’s what makes it fun.”

The café shows why social connection remains essential alongside technological advances. Devices and robots can offer support, but meaningful interaction and community engagement are what truly sustain people living with dementia.