Could robots strengthen the sense of autonomy of older people residing in assisted living facilities?—A future-oriented study

Abstract

There is an urge to introduce high technology and robotics in care settings. Assisted living (AL) is the fastest growing form of older adults' long-term care. Resident autonomy has become the watchword for good care. This article sheds light on the potential effects of care robotics on the sense of autonomy of older people in AL. Three aspects of the residents' sense of autonomy are of particular interest: (a) interaction-based sense of autonomy, (b) coping-based sense of autonomy, and (c) potential-based sense of autonomy. Ethnographical data on resident autonomy in an AL facility and existing literature on care robots are utilized in studying what kind of assurances different types of robots would provide to maintain the sense of autonomy in AL. Robots could strengthen the different types of sense of autonomy in multiple ways. Different types of robots could widen the residents' space of daily movements, sustain their capacities, and help them maintain and even create future expectations. Robots may strengthen the sense of autonomy of older persons in AL; however, they may simultaneously pose a threat. Multi-professional discussions are needed on whether robots are welcomed in care, and if they are, how, for whom, and in what areas.

Robotic transformative service research: deploying social robots for consumer well-being during COVID-19 and beyond

“…(continued ) (1) Social robots can strengthen older adults' sense of autonomy by making them less dependent to staff and formal care, closer to friends and families outside the facilitations and more functionally available in doing tasks (Pirhonen et al, 2020).…”

Socially Assistive Robots Helping Older Adults through the Pandemic and Life after COVID-19

“…Using an assistive technology can indicate weakness and frailty-many older adults agree in theory that a SAR could be helpful, but were quick to point out that it was for people worse off than them, or something they could use in the future [93]. On the flip side, the use of robots may make older adults feel more connected to society, since they are participating in the digital era and using what is perceived by others to be a "technology of the future" [107]. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic's social distancing regulations, older adults can directly benefit from using SARs, since it prevents infection from direct contact with other people, while still maintaining social communication and engagement.…”

“…[34,108]. In long-term care facilities, older adults can still enjoy some degree of autonomy by choosing their own daily schedules, provided by a robot, from within available options [107]. User studies with people with dementia have shown that SARs improve social engagement through facilitating conversations, and increase the older adult's level of independence and autonomy by giving reminders or offering them choices of activities [93,102,107].…”

Digital Health Interventions for Healthy Aging: A Qualitative User Evaluation and Ethical Assessment

“…It should be highlighted that infantilization is a major ethical and psychological concern in the old age [17]. The risk of deception, in contrast, is not reducible to the toy-like semblance of the Teddy and raises broader ethical concerns which apply -albeit in different degrees-also to pet-shaped, machine-like and humanoid robots [18]. It is also probable, that the toy shape can be more appreciated among older adults with dementia compared to cognitively healthy older adults.…”