The EnrichMe project: A robotic solution for independence and active aging of elderly people with MCI

Abstract

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a state related to ageing, and sometimes evolves to dementia. As there is no pharmacological treatment for MCI, a non-pharmacological approach is very important. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in care and assistance services for elderly people increases their chances of prolonging independence thanks to better cognitive efficiency. Robots are seen to have the potential to support the care and independence of elderly people. The project ENRICHME (funded by the EU H2020 Programme) focuses on developing and testing technologies for supporting elderly people with MCI in their living environment for a long time. This paper describes the results of the activities conducted during the first year of the ENRICHME project, in particular the definition of user needs and requirements and the resulting system architecture.