[Podcast] CareFeeder – Technology Solutions to Support the Elderly and Parkinson’s Patients to Have Foods and Drinks by Themselves
28 November, 2024
Keywords: CareFeeder, elderly, Parkinson’s patients, feeding support robot, automatic nutrition
With an aging population and a growing number of Parkinson’s patients, the need for specialized care for these populations is putting great pressure on the healthcare system. CareFeeder – an automated feeding device developed by researchers from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) – promises to provide an effective solution to improve the quality of life for the elderly and the patients while reducing the burden on caregivers.

Population aging is a global challenge affecting both developed and developing countries. At the same time, Parkinson’s disease, a progressive age-related neurological disorder, is on the rise. Elderly people and Parkinson’s patients often have difficulty feeding themselves, requiring constant support from caregivers.
In elderly care centers and hospitals, each medical staff often has to take care of 4-5 patients per day, including providing feeding support. This creates a significant burden on the healthcare system. Therefore, the development of technological solutions to support the elderly and Parkinson’s patients to eat independently, in order to improve their quality of life and reduce the pressure on caregivers, is urgent.
In this context, UEH researchers have implemented the project “Design and manufacture of feeding robots for Parkinson’s patients and the elderly”.
CareFeeder – An advanced technology solution
CareFeeder is an automated feeding aid developed by a research team at UEH. This device is specially designed to help the elderly and Parkinson’s patients have foods and drinks on their own without direct assistance from caregivers.
Smart, optimized structure
CareFeeder consists of three main components: (1) Rotating food tray; (2) 2-degree-of-freedom (2 DoF) robotic arm with spoon; (3) CareFeeder control application.
This design not only ensures production efficiency but also allows for widespread availability at an affordable price.
Advanced technology, superior features
CareFeeder has outstanding features as follows:
- Feeding process automation: CareFeeder uses a robotic arm to pick up food from a tray and to deliver it to the user’s mouth.
- Flexible operation: The device can be operated via voice control or controlled via a mobile app.
- Wireless data transmission: Meal information is sent to the mobile device via the web server.
- Smart Nutrition Analysis: Using a camera to detect the user’s mouth movements and to predict calories in food.
- Flexible customization: The controller can adjust the movement of the arm and tray according to the patient’s specific health condition and needs.


Promising results
The team tested the CareFeeder with 900 feedings, including rice, soup, and other dishes. The results concluded that the food spillage rate was only approximately 5.11%, meeting the requirements set for the device.
In short, CareFeeder is not simply a feeding support device; rather, this is a comprehensive solution integrating advanced technology to improve the quality of life for the elderly and Parkinson’s patients. By combining robotics, artificial intelligence and data analysis, CareFeeder opens a new direction in health care and nutrition management for these special subjects.
This research contributes to reducing the burden on the healthcare system and brings hope for a more independent and dignified life for the elderly and Parkinson’s patients. With advances like CareFeeder, we are moving closer to a future where technology and healthcare converge to create humane and effective solutions.
The full-text article on “Design and manufacture of feeding robots for Parkinson’s patients and the elderly” can be accessed HERE.
Authors: Dr. Dang Tri Dung; Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Truong Thinh; PhD Candidate Nguyen Minh Trieu – University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.
This article is part of the series spreading research and applied knowledge from UEH with the message “Research Contribution For All”. UEH cordially invites readers to wait for the next UEH Research Insights newsletter.
News and photos: The Authors, UEH Department of Communications and Partnership

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