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County ADRC reports strong engagement with LEQ robotic units; sustainability questions remain
Summary
ADRC staff reported high user engagement with LEQ units — 110 local enrollments, 135 units distributed, and a 9.3/10 net promoter score — but said subscription costs (about $45/month) and long-term funding remain unresolved despite vendor and Inclusa partnerships and limited charitable support.
Mary Lindberg presented a mid-pilot report on the ADRC’s social isolation and loneliness project using LEQ robotic units, describing strong user engagement and ongoing questions about how to sustain subscriptions once grant support ends.
Lindberg said the local program has enrolled 110 participants and distributed 135 units to date, though some units have been returned and redeployed. “Right now 76 of our participants are engaged on a daily basis,” she said, and the local users averaged 88.4 interactions per day in February. The program’s net promoter score — a measure of how likely users are to recommend the service — was reported at 9.3 out of 10.
How participants use devices: Lindberg said companionship is the most-used category of features, with wellness reminders, utilities (alarms, medication reminders), and cognitive games also widely used. She cited examples of goal-setting and increased physical activity and reported high participation from older cohorts: some users age 85+ engaged frequently and benefitted from cognitive features and wellness programming.
Privacy and controls: Lindberg described the LEQ platform as a closed, participant-controlled system and said it is HIPAA-compliant. “The participant totally controls all of their own information,” she said, adding the device is not intended for banking or for calling 911.
Sustainability: The grant covers the device and one year of subscription; Lindberg said ongoing monthly subscriptions are typically about $45. Intuition Robotics, the device vendor, has agreed to limited charitable support for some users rolling off the program, and Lindberg said inclusa-related funding pathways and potential Medicaid assistive-technology designation are under discussion. “We don’t know how long [vendor charitable support] will continue,” she cautioned.
Local needs: Lindberg told the committee Dunn County showed the greatest need among the three-county consortium, which factored into outreach and distribution priorities.
Next steps: Staff plan to continue device distribution through 2026 as grant units remain available, continue collecting program data, and pursue sustainable funding paths such as insurer or Medicaid coverage where feasible. The committee did not take formal action on the pilot at the March 16 meeting.
