Robots and VR: A New Way to Bring Joy to Seniors in Care Homes
Older adults in long-term care (LTC) often experience a lack of motivation, impacting their well-being and caregivers. Traditional medicines and methods require significant time and effort from staff. Experts are now exploring virtual reality (VR) and friendly robots as potential solutions.
Innovative Activities with VR and Robots
A recent study aimed to develop engaging activities using VR and robots to encourage interaction among older adults, combating feelings of apathy. The team included engineers, nurses, and doctors who collaborated with older adults and staff to design four activities:
- Three activities used a humanoid robot
- One activity used a robot dog
Testing and Feedback
Fourteen older adults from two sites participated:
- First Group helped design the activities.
- Second Group tested them.
Feedback was collected after each session, and adjustments were made based on user input. Staff members were also asked to set up the system to assess its ease of use.
Results and Future Research
- Older adults became more comfortable and confident using the robots and VR over time.
- Staff found the system easy to set up.
This demonstrates that older adults and staff can play a key role in developing and implementing such technologies.
However, further research is needed to determine if these activities can sustainably reduce apathy in the long term. The study also emphasizes the importance of involving end-users in the design process to ensure the technology aligns with their needs and preferences.
