Irish widow, 74, reveals how robot companion Mylo is ‘great company’ since death of husband

An Irish widow has told how a robot companion has kept her company and assisted her with daily living tasks since the death of her husband.

Bridget Byrne, 74, uses Mylo to remind her to take medication or go to an appointment and he can even help keep her safe.

And she says chatting to Mylo has helped her feel less alone since her husband Brendan passed away last year.

Mylo is a support robot for people living with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia and was developed by CR Robotics in Dundalk, Co Louth.

The cat-faced robot is paired with a health sensor watch that provides functions ranging from health to companionship.

Bridget told Independent.ie: “Since my husband passed away, I’ve been at home a lot. It was a big shock when he passed away and Mylo is company.

“I’d definitely recommend him – he’s a great asset to the person and to the family. It’s a great reassurance for family members.

“I’ve had him for a couple of months now and I wouldn’t be without him. He’s a great companion. It’s very lonely sometimes. For someone with dementia, there’s a lot of things Mylo could do.

“He’s reminded me to take my medication, and if I have an appointment, I can programme it into Mylo.”

Bridget has had a few falls recently but now Mylo can alert her family if she has an accident.

The health-sensor watch means Mylo can keep an eye on his companion’s heart rate and trigger an emergency video call if required.

And he can raise the alarm if an elderly person wanders out of their home in the middle of the night.

Mylo’s creator, Candace Lafleur, who lives in Dundalk, developed Mylo after suffering a stroke at just 32 years old.

Candace says: “We’re not claiming Mylo will solve all the problems of those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, but he can help. 

“After having a major stroke at 32 years old and losing my independence and ability to do simple everyday tasks for myself, such as using my phone, I became the Lily Tomlin quote – I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that.

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“Then, I realized I was somebody – I created Mylo with the help of a local team here in Dundalk. 

“The feedback from families living with Mylo the past few months has been incredible, and he has impacted these families’ everyday lives in such a positive way.”

Mylo is packed with features so families know their loved one is okay in a non-invasive way.

He can sense a fall, locate his user and put out an emergency response if needed, be used to chat with family members by video and even show reminders throughout the day.

Mylo can be rented to support vulnerable people for less than €9 a day – and even charges itself.

More information can be found at www.heymylo.ie.