NYSOFA expands partnership with Intuition Robotics to bring ElliQ to more seniors

The New York State Office for the Aging, or NYSOFA,  last week extended its partnership with Intuition Robotics. The company will continue bringing its ElliQ AI companion to aging New Yorkers at risk of loneliness and social isolation.

With the expansion, NYSOFA and Intuition Robotics created a new three-year, $2.1 million agreement.

The expansion builds on the organizations’ three years of experience working together. During that time, ElliQ has demonstrated its ability to reduce loneliness and improve health and wellbeing. The robot also helps older adults remain healthier and more independent in their own homes.

“Loneliness and isolation are commonly heard today, but make no mistake, the health effects are devastating, and NYSOFA is working continuously to provide the help older New Yorkers need,” said Greg Olsen, director of the office. “ElliQ is an essential tool to help combat the loneliness epidemic, joining dozens of other projects launched by NYSOFA to overcome the digital divide, address social isolation, improve health and wellness, and support caregivers.”

NYSOFA established its first public-private partnership in 2018, following a report by AARP and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the impact of loneliness and social isolation on older adults and Medicare spending. It stated that loneliness and isolation are equivalent to smoking almost a pack of cigarettes per day, cost Medicare more than $7 billion to treat, and make chronic conditions worse. They can also increase mortality, depression and anxiety, and the risk of dementia.

In addition to its partnership with NYSOFA, Intuition Robotics has similar partnerships in Wisconsin, Florida, and Washington. In Washington, the program is aimed at Medicaid recipients. The Ramat Gan, Israel-based company was founded in 2016.

NYSOFA reports favorable results with ElliQ so far

Since launching in 2022, hundreds of older adults across New York have received ElliQ through the program, while demand continues to grow. More than 3,500 older adults applied to participate in 2025 alone.

“Perhaps most importantly, the partnership has reinforced that effective AI companionship isn’t just about answering questions or providing reminders. It’s about proactively engaging older adults, understanding their individual needs, and building the trust and familiarity that make technology a meaningful part of their everyday lives,” an Intuition Robotics spokesperson told The Robot Report.

Newly reported program data from 2026 demonstrates ElliQ’s impact on the older adults living with the device:

-92% of ElliQ users find the companion useful.

-Participants engage with ElliQ an average of 48 times per day, up from 29 daily interactions in reporting from previous years.

-94% report feeling less lonely, 97% report improved overall wellbeing, 88% say ElliQ has made a positive difference in their daily lives, and 79% feel more connected to the world around them.

-Every mon