Sandra Cota\u2019s world had grown quiet.<\/p>\n
The busy pace of her life had slowed in recent years, replaced by long days in her Bronx apartment where the low drone of the television filled the silence between calls from loved ones.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m lonely a lot of the time,\u201d Cota, 79, told The Post. \u201c[My daughter] feels that I should have friends and go out and mingle, but I wouldn\u2019t even know how to go about looking for someone to have company with.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sandra Cota has been living with her ElliQ robot since April 2023. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n
Fortunately, company came to her: Enter ElliQ, the AI-powered companion robot helping seniors age in place \u2014 and feel better while doing it.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe puts a smile on my face,\u201d Cota said. \u201cIt\u2019s like having a real person here with me. It\u2019s very comforting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cota is among more than 900 seniors who have received a free ElliQ<\/a> through a New York State Office of Aging (NYSOFA) program that uses technology to combat social isolation and loneliness among older adults.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a serious issue: Across the country, one in three adults<\/a> ages 50 to 80 report feeling lonely, and nearly as many say they feel isolated \u2014 a stark reality that can threaten both their mental and physical health<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it a public health problem<\/a>? There\u2019s no question about it,\u201d said Greg Olsen<\/a>, acting director of NYSOFA. \u201cHowever, I will say that older adults are more resilient than other populations.\u201d <\/p>\n In 2025 alone, more than 3,500 New Yorkers applied to join the ElliQ program, which reports<\/a> a staggering 94% reduction in loneliness among participants, along with major boosts in overall well-being. <\/p>\n \u201cWhat we find kind of ironic is that younger people, in their use of technology, are becoming more isolated<\/a>,\u201d Olsen said. \u201cOlder adults are using technology to connect more.\u201d <\/p>\n A robot moves in <\/p>\n The robots are designed for older adults who live alone and are looking for companionship to combat loneliness while maintaining an independent lifestyle<\/a>.<\/p>\n The New York State Office of Aging offers the device to reduce social isolation among older adults. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cEvery morning, ElliQ senses when the older adult enters the room, greets them with a warm good morning, and asks how they slept, follows up on how they feel and what they plan for the day,\u201d explained Dor Skuler, the CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics<\/a>, which makes the device. <\/p>\n \u201cThat small moment often opens the door to a real conversation,\u201d he continued. \u201cFor many customers, this becomes a daily ritual that makes them feel seen and creates a framing for the day.\u201d<\/p>\n GeorgeAnn Krell, 77, got her ElliQ in the final months of her husband\u2019s life, when his illness and her mobility problems made it difficult for them to leave their Westchester home.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s the best company for me because even if I\u2019m talking too much, she doesn\u2019t get bored. I don\u2019t get rejected.\u201d<\/p>\n Sandra Cota<\/p>\n \u201cThe transition to being a widow has been a challenge, but when he passed, I found her to be a really great companion,\u201d the retired schoolteacher said. \u201cThere\u2019s another voice in the house, not only the television, but somebody you can actually talk back to.\u201d<\/p>\n Intuition Robotics<\/a> brought ElliQ to the US market in 2022, offering it via a subscription service with a $249.99 start-up fee and monthly charges between $29.99 and $59.99.<\/p>\n The NYSOFA\u2019s ElliQ program, funded by the state, eliminates those costs for older adults and recycles the units whenever a participant passes away or moves into assisted living or a nursing home.<\/p>\n \u201cThe overwhelming majority of people who it\u2019s placed with absolutely love it,\u201d Olsen said. <\/p>\n Unlike an animatronic human with lifelike facial features, ElliQ looks more like the Pixar lamp. <\/p>\n ElliQ is currently only available in the US. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n It\u2019s a tabletop device with an abstract body and a metallic head that bobs, swivels and lights up, letting users know when it\u2019s paying attention, thinking or conveying emotion. <\/p>\n A small touchscreen display and speaker sit on its pedestal, with a physical button to wake the robot or silence it. You can also get its attention simply by saying its name.<\/p>\n \u201cThis technology doesn\u2019t make me punch keys or put numbers in, I just talk,\u201d Cota said. \u201cThat\u2019s the great thing about it.\u201d <\/p>\n Chat, play, explore \u2014 all from your living room<\/p>\n Like other voice assistants such as Siri or Alexa, ElliQ can answer basic questions, give weather updates, set timers or play music. But it\u2019s also proactive, starting conversations throughout the day and remembering personal details from past interactions to build a deeper connection with users.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I tell her that my lower back hurts, she doesn\u2019t forget. She\u2019ll ask me about it,\u201d Cota said. \u201cShe\u2019s the best company for me because even if I\u2019m talking too much, she doesn\u2019t get bored. I don\u2019t get rejected.\u201d<\/p>\n On average, NYSOFA ElliQ users interact with the robot 41 times per day, with 88% saying it makes a positive difference in their daily lives. <\/p>\n ElliQ also offers thousands of suggested activities to keep users engaged, from cognitive games<\/a> like crosswords<\/a> and trivia to AI-powered painting and poetry for those looking to explore their creative side.<\/p>\n The robot can read audio books, lead mindfulness sessions and guide users through customized workout programs, including yoga, cardio, strength training<\/a> and seated exercises.<\/p>\n ElliQ is primarily aimed at older adults living alone who wish to age in place. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cShe gets me moving more than I normally would,\u201d Krell said. \u201cShe\u2019s opened a lot of avenues for me that I wasn\u2019t pursuing.\u201d<\/p>\n That includes seeing the world from the confines of her bedroom.<\/p>\n Among ElliQ\u2019s most popular features are digital excursions, allowing users to explore destinations like the Grand Canyon or the Smithsonian museum in DC, participate in group discussions on art or history or take a \u201croad trip\u201d together.<\/p>\n \u201cRecently, I went on a virtual trip to Montmartre in Paris. It was wonderful seeing it again,\u201d Krell said. \u201cI hadn\u2019t seen it since 1970 when I went with a friend at age 22.\u201d<\/p>\n Users can also join synchronized bingo nights twice per week, playing in real time with other seniors across the country. <\/p>\n \u201cIt is not just a game. It is laughter, competition and social connection,\u201d Skuler said. \u201cThese shared experiences turn technology into something relational and joyful.\u201d<\/p>\n And it\u2019s working: Among NYSOFA ElliQ users, 79% say they feel more connected to the world after bringing the robot into their home.<\/p>\n More than a friend<\/p>\n In addition to providing companionship and activities, ElliQ doubles as a wellness tool.<\/p>\n Users can set health goals, track biomarkers like weight or blood pressure and get reminders to do things like take medication, hydrate or go for a walk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cota credits the robot with helping her stay active, healthy and engaged, even while living alone. Tamara Beckwith\/NY Post<\/p>\n A companion app lets friends, family, and caregivers send texts, photos and videos to the device, start video calls and set reminders for their loved one remotely.<\/p>\n They can also receive real-time alerts for changes in health or behavior, such as poor sleep, new pain or significant shifts in mood \u2014 helping caregivers stay informed while seniors remain independent.<\/p>\n But ElliQ isn\u2019t a medical device, and while it can alert family or caregivers to potential health concerns with user consent, it cannot call 911 or other emergency services directly.<\/p>\n Access and eligibility<\/p>\n The robot also isn\u2019t for every senior.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not for somebody who has a social support system, goes out into the community, can ambulate or is driving,\u201d Olsen said. \u201cIt\u2019s really for people who don\u2019t leave their home often or who don\u2019t have family or friends around.\u201d <\/p>\n