Therapeutic robots as a technological intervention in residential environments for older adults: Uses, limitations and ethical concerns

Rosa Redolat () and Mercedes Fernandez-Rios ()
Additional contact information
Rosa Redolat: Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology and Logopedy, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain,
Mercedes Fernandez-Rios: Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Logopedy, Universitat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain

Technium Social Sciences Journal, 2021, vol. 26, issue 1, 514-526

Abstract: The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) is one of the innovative responses to the high prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. A more holistic approach to the field of gerontology is being adopted, including robotics as an expanding field in the care of the elderly. Our main aim is to review how new technologies can provide opportunities for sensory stimulation and social participation for older adults. We also discuss the transformation of the models of care (from more traditional medical models to person-centered care models) reviewing the use of social robots as a valuable tool in interventions in different residential environments. Robotic technology aimed at the support and care for older adults has shown benefits in areas such as communication, social interaction and quality of life. The review of recent literature also suggests that the use of social robots presents some limitations (robots should be designed to meet the real needs of patients and we need to take into account their impact on health and environment) and ethical concerns (data protection or fear that robots will end up replacing contact among humans) that must be considered when applying these new technologies. It is concluded that social robots can be considered as promising tools for use in people with AD, both from the perspective of the patients and their caregivers, offering cost-effective solutions. New technologies should not aim to replace humans but rather could be a complementary tool for the management and provision of care.

Keywords: aged; Alzheimer disease; technology; caregiver; robotics; dementia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://techniumscience.com/index.php/socialsciences/article/view/5114/1900 (application/pdf)
https://techniumscience.com/index.php/socialsciences/article/view/5114 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tec:journl:v:26:y:2021:i:1:p:514-526

Access Statistics for this article

Technium Social Sciences Journal is currently edited by Tasente Tanase

More articles in Technium Social Sciences Journal from Technium Science
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Tasente Tanase ( this e-mail address is bad, please contact ).