Carrier-pigeon robot: Promoting interactions among older adults in a care home

Abstract

Communication among older adults in a care home is often reduced due to cognitive, communication, and mobility impairments. They tend to become isolated, which may lead to faster cognitive decline. We present an approach in which a robot is used as a communication vehicle between people located in adjacent rooms. To program the robot, we resorted to physical blocks with 3D icons. Older adults are able to create a sequence of messages that the robot delivers to another person or group. The blocks represented userrecorded voice messages, pre-recorded messages (e.g., proverbs), or actions (e.g., delivering cookies). A preliminary study with 22 older adults in a care home showed positive engagements between groups and an overall sense of excitement and fun. Carrier robots promise to extend the action range and operate as a communication tool, enabling interactions between people who may not be able to interact whenever they feel compelled to.