“Rest assured, this world in which robotic caregivers are looked upon to help with our world’s greying population is very much a reality. It’s not a question of if, but when.”
Jason Walker
Waypoint Robotics
Robot & Frank is a classic movie in which an aging Frank becomes cognitively impaired and his son purchases him a robot to allow him to stay at home. Frank, a lifetime thief, discovers he can teach his robotic companion to help him rob banks. While we are not quite there yet, the development of robots to help care for older persons is increasing exponentially.
Robot was introduced as a term in a 1920 play called “R.U.R” (Rossum’s Universal Robots) by Karel Capek. It is a Slavic word which means labor. A robot can be defined as a machine that can do work that would normally require a human to complete. A variety of computerized systems have been developed to enhance the quality of life for older adults. These include remote monitoring, systems to enhance movements, including brain machine interfaces, systems to assist or replace nursing, robotic companions, cognitive devices, diagnostic devices, robotic transporters and robotic therapist (Table 1) (1–5). These robots can be used for loneliness, social and cognitive activities, safety and security, digital health and quality of life (6, 7).
Robotic nursing assistants are on the verge of becoming a key component of medical care. Nursebots have been developed to help with the transfer of individuals from bed to chair. Robots can assist with feeding individuals. Robots can dispense medicines in nursing homes and hospitals. Research into the role of intelligent sensors has made major advances in the last decade (8–10). These sensors can create health alerts that can alert nurses when a patient is getting out bed without assistance to complex systems that measure a person’s gait and fall risk. They can also detect persons who have fallen. Sensors can measure the use of the refrigerator or toilet and the time spent sleeping. Robots can also be used to disinfect the environment using xenon rays or ultra violet light.
A second role of robots is to provide companionship and to improve the ability of older persons to live independently (11). Numerous studies have shown that robotic animal companions, such as AIBO the dog, PARO the seal and Hasbro cats, can improve happiness and quality of life in older persons living in nursing homes (12–19). These robots improve social interactions and activity among older persons with cognitive impairment. Overall, social robots appear to improve well being of older adults (20). Robots can also provide a telepresence and provide communication with families. Humanoid robots appear to be as successful as robopets (6, 21).
Companionable is a European Union project to develop a sophisticated robot (Hector) and an intelligent home system to allow frail older persons to support their ability to live at home independently (22). This robotic system supplies companionship, sensors to monitor the person and to detect falls, provide reminders and bring items to them and provide video connections to others (22). Hector can move around the house and provide cognitive stimulation.
Older persons need to do exercise to prevent and reverse the development of sarcopenia (23). Humanoid and nonhumanoid robots can provide group or individual exercise sessions. Exoskeletons can be used to allow a person with paralysis to walk. In addition, activated prosthesis and brain-machine interfaces can be used to enhance limb function (24). Self-driving robotic transport systems can be used to help transport an older person. Robots can also provide walking support for frail people (23).
Social robots have been developed to provide therapy for depression (25). Humanoid robots can provide support for persons with dementia and their caregivers (26, 27). Telehealth can be used to deliver an individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy utilizing a robot (28, 29). Cognitoys may also help to stimulate memory.
Diagnostic devices can utilize robots to collect data and use Artificial Intelligence to make the diagnosis (30). This is ideal for the Annual Medicare Wellness visit.
Overall, there are a number of roles that robots can be used to provide services for older persons. As these robotic services are developed, they will reduce the need for human involvement. These devices are generally well accepted by older persons (31). In the future it can be expected that these robots will play an important role in allowing older persons to age successfully.
References
Sapci AH, Sapci HA. Innovative assisted living tools, remote monitoring technologies, artificial intelligence-driven solutions, and robotic systems for aging societies: Systematic review. MIR Aging 2019;2(2):e15429.
D’Onofrio G, Sancarlo D, Raciti M, et al. MARIO project: Validation and evidence of service robots for older people with dementia. J Alzheimers Dis 2019;68:1587–1601.
Carter-Templeton H, Frazier RM, Wu L, Wyatt TH. Robotics in nursing: A bibliometric analysis. J Nurs Scholarsh 2018;50:5882–589.
Mole w, Jones C, Murfield J, et al. Using a therapeutic companion robot for dementia symptoms in long-term care: Reflections from a cluster-RCT.
Penteridis L, D’Onofrio G, Sancarlo D, et al. Robotic and sensor technologies for mobility in older people. Rejuvenation Res 2017;20(5):401–410.
Sardis B. How can social robots help the elderly age in place better and longer. TechForAging. https://techforaging.com/author/banysardis/.
Berg-Weger M, Morley JE. Editorial: Loneliness and social isolation in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: Implications for gerontological social work.
Galambos C, Rantz M, Craver A, Bongiomo M, et al. Living with intelligent sensors: Older adult and family member perceptions. Computer Informatics: Nursing. 2019;37(12):615–619.
Rantz M, Skubic M, Abbott C, et al. Automated in-home fall risk assessment and detection sensor system for elders. Gerontologist 2015;55 Supple 1(Supple 1):S78–87.
Phillips LJ, DeRoche CB, Rantz M, et al. Using embedded sensors in independent living to predict gait changes and falls. West J Nurs Res 2017;39:78–94.
Fiorini L, De Mul M, Fabbricotti I, et al. Assistive robots to improve the independent living of older persons: Results from a needs study. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology 2019;16(1):92–102.
Gasteiger N, Ahn HS, Fok C, et al. Older adults’ experiences and perceptions of living with Bomy, an assistive daily care robot: A qualitative study. Assist Technol 2021 May 3:1–11.
Moyle W, Bramble M, Jones C, Murfield J. Care staff perceptions of a social robot called Paro and a look-alike plush troy: A descriptive qualitative approach. Aging Ment Health 2018;22:330–335.
Robinson H, Broadbent E, MacDonald B. Group sessions with Paro in a nursing home: Structure, observations and interviews. Australas J Ageing. 2016;35:106–112.
Sung HC, Chang SM, Chin MY, Lee WL. Robot-assisted therapy for improving social interactions and activity participation among institutionalized older adults: A pilot study. Asia Pac Psychiatry 2015;7;1–6.
Pike J, Picking R, Cunningham S. Robot companion cats for people at home with dementia: A qualitative case study on companionotics. Dementia (London). 2021;20:1300–1318.
Gasteiger N, Loveys K, Law M, Broadbent. Friends from the future: A scoping review of research into robots and computer agents to combat loneliness in older people. Clin Interv Aging 2021;May 24;16:941–971.
Abbott R, Orr N, McGill P, et al. How do “robopets” impact the health and well-being of residents in care homes? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence. Int J Older People Nurs 2019;14(3):e12239.
Liang A, Piroth I, Robinson H, et al. A pilot randomized trial of a companion robot for people with dementia living in the community. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2017;18:871–878.
Pu L, Moyle W, Jones C, Todorovic M. The effectiveness of social robots for older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. The Gerontologist. 2019;59(1):E37–e51.
Andtfolk M, Nyholm L, Eide H, Fagerstrom L. Humanoid robots in the care of older persons: A scoping review. Assist Technol 2021 Mar 5;1–9. Epub ahead of print.
Coviello L, Cavallo F, Limosani R, Rovini E, Fiorini L. Machine learning based physical human—robot interaction for walking support of frail people. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc 2019;Jul; 3404–3407. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2019.8856917.
Yeo PS, Nguyen TN, Ng MPE, et al. Evaluation of the implementation and effectiveness of community-based brain-computer interface cognitive group training in healthy community-dwelling older adults: Randomized controlled implementation trial. JMIR Form Res 2021;5(4):e25462.
Vilela M, Hochbereg LR. Applications of brain-computer interfaces to the control of robotic and prosthetic arms. Clin Neurol 2020;16:86.
Chen SC, Jones C, Moyle W. Social robots for depression in older adults: A systematic review. J Nurs Scholarsh 2018;50:612–622.
Barrett E, Burke M, Whelan S, et al. Evaluation of a companion robot for individuals with dementia: quantitative findings of the MARIO project in an Irish residential care setting. J Gerontol Nurs 2019;1:54(7):36–45.
Chen K, Wei-Qun Lou V, Tan KCK, Wai MY, Chan LL. Effects of a humanoid companion robot on dementia symptoms and caregivers distress for residents in long-term care. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2020;21:1724–1828.e3.
Rai HK, Schneider J, Orrell M. An individual cognitive stimulation therapy app for people with dementia and their carers: Protocol for a feasibility randomized controlled trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2021;10(4):e24628.
Morley JE. Editorial: Telehealth and geriatrics. J Nutr Health Aging 2021;25:712–713.
Merchant RA, Hui RJY, Kwek SC, et al. Rapid Geriatric Assessment using mobile app in primary care: Prevalence of geriatric syndromes and review of its feasibility. Front Med (Lausanne). 2020;7:261.
Cavallo F, Esposito R, Limosani R, et al. Robotic services acceptance in smart environments with older adults: User satisfaction and acceptability study. J Med Internet Res 2018;20:e264.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest: The author declares there are no conflicts.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Morley, J.E. Robots and Aging. J Nutr Health Aging 25, 949–950 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-021-1658-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-021-1658-7