JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

By 2050, nearly 13 million Americans will have Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) with the majority of those with ADRD or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) receiving care in their home. Socially assistive robots (SARs), including mobile telepresence robots, may allow persons with MCI/ADRD to remain living independently at home as well as ease the burden of caregiving. This study’s goal was to identify how to adapt an existing mobile telepresence robot to a SAR through key stakeholder input.

Objective:

Specific objectives were to: 1) assess what applications should be integrated into the robot to further support the independence of individuals with MCI/ADRD and 2) understand stakeholders’ overall opinions about the robot.

Methods:

We conducted in-person interviews with 21 stakeholders: 1) 6 people age > 50 with MCI/ADRD living in the community; 2) 9 family caregivers of people with MCI/ADRD; and 3) 6 clinicians who work with the ADRD population. Interview questions about the robot focused on: 1) technology use; 2) design/functionality; 3) future applications to incorporate; and 4) overall opinions. We conducted a thematic analysis of the data obtained and assessed the patterns within and across stakeholder groups using a matrix analysis technique.

Results:

Overall, a majority of stakeholder across groups felt positively about the robot’s ability to provide support to individuals with MCI/ADRD and decrease caregiver burden. Most ADRD stakeholders felt that the greatest benefits would be getting help in case of emergency and having fewer in-person visits to the doctor’s office. Caregivers and clinicians also noted remote video communication with their family member using the robot as valuable. Adding voice command and one-touch lifesaving/help buttons to the robot were top suggestions offered across stakeholders. The four types of applications that were suggested included: health-related alerts; reminders; smart-home related; and social/entertainment/well-being. Stakeholders across groups liked the robot’s mobility, size, and its interactive connection and communication abilities. However, stakeholders raised concerns about its physical stability and size for those individuals living in smaller, cluttered spaces; screen quality for those with visual impairments; and privacy/data security.

Conclusions:

Although stakeholders generally expressed positive opinions about the robot, additional adaptions were suggested to strengthen functionality. Adding applications and making improvements to the design may help mitigate concerns and better support individuals with ADRD to remain living independently in the community. As the number of individuals living with ADRD in the U.S. increases, mobile telepresence robots are a promising way to support them and their caregivers. Engaging all three stakeholder groups in the development of these robots is a critical first step to ensure that the technology matches their needs. Integrating the feedback obtained from our stakeholders and evaluating effectiveness will be important next steps in adapting to a SAR.