Social robot in service of the cognitive therapy of elderly people: Exploring robot acceptance in a real-world scenario

Abstract

Aging is a global demographic trend that is leading to an increase in the prevalence of cognitive disorders. Innovative healthcare solutions are needed to meet the growing demand for assistance. Robots equipped with advanced artificial intelligence, sensors and social interaction capabilities offer promising tools to address the challenges of cognitive decline in the elderly. The main objective of this study is to assess the acceptance of social robots in healthcare among elderly people. Specifically, we provide the social robot Furhat with the ability to greet patients and assess their cognitive function through neuropsychological tests. The experiment involves 26 elderly people interacting with the social robot Furhat in a clinical setting. A questionnaire is administered in order to carry out our results to understand the usability, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, intention to use and comfort in interaction. In addition, a group discussion highlights some opinions and feedbacks among the participants. Our results suggest that the integration of social robots into cognitive testing for the elderly has a positive outlook.