Abstract
Addressing the topic of ageing societies, the present paper stresses the importance of preserving the autonomy, social participation and affective bonds of elders. Claiming that maintaining the social and affective ties that link someone to their home environment and to their close family and friends is fundamental for physical and mental health, and consequently for extended years of life with quality, the authors identify the potential benefits of assistive/domestic robots adverting to the potential ethical issues to be safeguarded.
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Notes
- 1.
According to the European Commission—The 2012 Ageing: Economic and Budgetary Projections for the 27 EU Member States (2010–2060), the balance of active (working) versus inactive people will shift from 5:1 to 2:1 in 2030.
- 2.
Epidemiological studies (The Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study in Medical Research Council (2010) have indicated the prevalecence of depression in institutionalised aged responsible for cognitive and physical decay.
- 3.
Among the European countries, Portugal is the fourth with the highest percentage of old people. According to the data released for Portugal-Census 2011, 20 % of the Portuguese population is over 60. About 1.200.000 old people live by themselves or in the company of another older and about 75000 live in residence houses, a number that tends to increase.
- 4.
World Population Ageing: 1950–2050. United Nations Report, 2002.
- 5.
Active Aging: a Policy Framework. April 2002. World Health Organisation.
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- 7.
- 8.
Catering for Granny’s house video reflects the work of ISR/IST researchers within this project https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_F0xMyyJ0s.
- 9.
Cf Sharkey and Wood (2014).
References
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Aldinhas Ferreira, M.I., Sequeira, J.S. (2017). Robots in Ageing Societies. In: Aldinhas Ferreira, M., Silva Sequeira, J., Tokhi, M., E. Kadar, E., Virk, G. (eds) A World with Robots. Intelligent Systems, Control and Automation: Science and Engineering, vol 84. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-46667-5_17
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