Robots as Social and Physical Assistants in Elderly Care

Abstract

Care robots are robotic applications targeted for use in care and nursing environments, or to support independent living for the elderly and those with disabilities. Robots may provide relief to the challenge in many countries of tending to an increased elderly population’s needs for care services. This chapter provides an introductory review of care robots and discusses their acceptability within the field of elderly care. Our focus is on the end-users of robots, namely the elderly and care professionals, who are often neglected or misconceived within the field of technology development. We approach their perspective through three empirical studies: a citizen panel for older adults on their expectations and concerns for care robots, a case study of a social robot adopted within three elderly-care facilities, and a case study of a mobile telepresence robot piloted in two care facilities. In these studies, both elderly people and professionals showed positive perceptions towards care robots, at least from certain perspectives. They also presented requirements and framework conditions that should be taken into account when considering the use of robots in care. In particular, the study participants highlighted the priority of humans in care, although they accepted robots for carrying out secondary care tasks.