Social robots for older adults: Framework of activities for aging in place with robots

Abstract

According to the United Nations World Population Prospects, the world’s population is aging. Older adults constitute a fragile part of society, as aging is always accompanied by major psychological and physical challenges. A way to cope with those challenges is to strive for a good Quality of Life (QoL) and contribute to successful aging. Social robots can play an important role in the promotion of QoL by integrating activities with independent-living older adults. Using a qualitative design through a focus group method, this paper aims to present the activities in which independent-living older adults, i.e., older adults that do not depend upon anyone to carry out their activities, require a robot. By understanding the activities where robots can positively influence and contribute to older adults’ QoL, we set specific goals for the future research in the field of Human-Robot Interaction (HRI).