Social Robotics and Dementia: Results from the eWare Project in Supporting Older People and Their Informal Caregivers

Giulio Amabili, Giacomo Cucchieri, Arianna Margaritini, Marco Benadduci, Federico Barbarossa, Riccardo Luzi, Giovanni Renato Riccardi, Giuseppe Pelliccioni, Elvira Maranesi () and Roberta Bevilacqua
Additional contact information
Giulio Amabili: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Giacomo Cucchieri: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Arianna Margaritini: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Marco Benadduci: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Federico Barbarossa: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Riccardo Luzi: Medical Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60127 Ancona, Italy
Giovanni Renato Riccardi: Clinical Unit of Physical Rehabilitation, IRCCS INRCA, 60127 Ancona, Italy
Giuseppe Pelliccioni: Unit of Neurology, IRCCS INRCA, 60127 Ancona, Italy
Elvira Maranesi: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Roberta Bevilacqua: Scientific Direction, IRCCS INRCA, 60124 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 20, 1-11

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe the results collected with the Italian study conducted within eWare project, aimed at supporting the autonomy and health of the older people affected by dementia and their informal caregivers, through the use of an innovative system based on a social robot and a sensorized environmental infrastructure. Nine dyads of older participants with their caregivers were enrolled in testing the system for 6 months. The results show a positive impact of the system in supporting the achievement of personal goals of the participants, as well as in supporting the quality of life of the informal caregivers. Nevertheless, the impact of the system in reducing the caregivers’ burden needs to be deeply investigated. This research highlights the potential of the eWare system but modifications will have to be made, especially on the interactivity capabilities, in order to meet the peculiar needs and wishes of older people with dementia and to favor the long-term use of the system.

Keywords: older people; dementia; cognitive decline; social robotics; informal caregivers; HRI (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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