An interview study on socially assistive robots and professional care relationships

Abstract

Background: The shortage of skilled healthcare workers, intensified by demographic change, has stimulated interest in robotic solutions for elderly care. While assistive robots typically perform practical tasks, socially assistive robots (SARs) are increasingly taking on communicative and relational roles, raising ethical concerns. Critics fear that SARs will disrupt the professional caregiver–client relationship and replace, rather than complement, human workers. Aim: This study explores how SARs influence the professional care relationships and the professional self-understanding. Research design: A qualitative interpretive study design. Participants and research context: Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, we analyzed twelve semi-structured interviews with professional caregivers experienced in using SARs in Germany and four additional interviews with stakeholders involved in their development and implementation (2023–2024). Ethical considerations: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Potsdam (No. 84/2022). Results: Caregivers initially feared that SARs would replace the relational and emotional dimensions of care. However, practical experience changed their perspective. Instead of seeing SARs as substitutes, caregivers came to view them as part of a triadic care model involving the caregiver, the client, and the robot. This model reinforces the central role of caregivers in integrating SARs while maintaining emotional and relational care. SARs were accepted as tools to reduce physical workload, but caregivers emphasized that emotional support and relationship-building must remain human tasks. Conclusion: Using SARs reshapes the perspective of caregivers, fostering a triadic relationship in which they remain central. They act as mediators, ensuring that SARs function as supportive tools rather than substitutes. Caregivers set ethical boundaries, prioritizing human empathy and relational care. This evolving role highlights the continued importance of the human presence in care, even as robotic technologies advance.