Nursing and rehabilitative care of the elderly using humanoid robots

Abstract

Japan’s declining birth rate and increasing aging population prompted intercessory efforts towards robot technologies in nursing practice for the elderly. Today, technological companies are developing robots that meet universal health care technology demands. While human caring focus on human-to-human relationships, but between humans and nonhumans, e.g. Humanoid Nursing Robot (HNRs)-to-human relationships, caring practices have not been forthcoming. When HNRs can support patients independently, capabilities much like being human will be required, including intelligence and skill competencies. Currently, Tanioka，s research group is conducting clinical trials of humanoid robots equipped with applications using Pepper (manufactured by SOFTBANK CORPORATION), towards elderly care and rehabilitation at the Mifune Hospital, Kagawa prefecture. Care Prevention Gymnastics Exercises (Pepper-CPGE) was made by Xing Company, Japan. Therefore, this paper aims to describe the clinical trial outcomes based on the Transactive Relationship Theory of Nursing (TRETON) (Tanioka, 2017) emphasizing nursing engagement processes between HNRs and human persons. Observable effects include positive changes in relationships of patients, humanoid robots and healthcare providers. Emphasizing ethical concerns and human person safety as critical factors of care, and fears for divergent robot use are observed. Cooperative undertakings with various interdisciplinary activities mark the visioning of Japanese human caring ideas for an aging society.