Proposal for a Human–Machine Collaborative Transfer System Considering Caregivers’ Lower Back Pain and Cognitive Factors in the Elderly during Transfer Movements

Abstract

With the aging society in Japan, the number of elderly people residing in elderly facilities is increasing. In previous study, we developed a transfer assistive device designed to aid the elderly in transferring from the bedroom to the bathroom. Additionally, the device assists the elderly with standing and sitting to facilitate independent toileting activities. We verified that, throughout the entire transfer movement, the lumbar burden on caregivers remained below 3400 N. In this study, based on quantitative evaluation indices of transfer movements, the relationship between the lumbar burden on caregivers and factors such as psychological anxiety or cognitive impairment in the elderly during the use of a transfer assistive device was elucidated through motion analysis. We developed a control algorithm for the human–machine collaborative transfer system with the aim of alleviating the strain on the caregiver’s lower back while ensuring the elderly can use the device with peace of mind. The practicality of the control algorithm was verified.