The perspectives of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers on the use of socially assistive robots in healthcare: exploring factors that influence attitude in a pre-implementation stage

Abstract

Background

Due to increasing age and an increasing prevalence rate of neurocognitive disorders such as Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia, independent living may become challenging. The use of socially assistive robots (SARs) is one solution that can enable older adults with cognitive impairment to remain independent. However, at present, there is a lack of knowledge about the attitudes of older adults with MCI and their caregivers towards SARs.

Methods

This study relies on a constructivist grounded theory approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gain a deeper insight into attitudes of two different stakeholder groups; older adults with MCI and their (in)formal caregivers.

Results

Forty individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with older adults with MCI (N = 30) and (in)formal caregivers (N = 10). Data revealed different perspectives on SARs in healthcare for the involved stakeholders. Two main topics could be derived: (1) perspectives on robot assistance, discussing different viewpoints on the potential value of robots as helpers, and (2) perspectives on implementation, revealing different factors that could affect implementation. Both topics may explain a positive, impartial or negative attitude towards SARs.

Conclusions

This study identified different factors that should be taken into account when implementing a SAR in the home environment of older adults. Despite the fact that the benefits of SARs are often recognized, many older participants currently seem not ready yet to commit to the use of a SAR.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• This study explores the attitudes towards a SAR, developed to stimulate and support older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) on a physical, cognitive and social level.

• The results give a deeper insight into different factors contributing to a (non-) successful implementation of SARs in the home environment of older adults with MCI.

Keywords:

• Socially assistive robots
• ageing
• older adults
• aged care
• assisted living facilities
• mild cognitive impairment

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the older adults and their (in)formal caregivers who participated so willingly in this project. The authors are also grateful to colleagues in the ReMIND consortium: Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Universitatea medicina si farmace Victor Babes Timisoara, Romania; Ovos Media GmbH, Austria; FH campus Wien, Austria; The Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Zora Robotics plc, Belgium.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work described in this project was partially funded by the AAL-project ReMIND (Robotic ePartner for Multitarget INnovative activation of people with Dementia) [grant No. AAL-2017-026].