Robots and VR: A New Way to Bring Joy to Seniors in Care Homes

Older adults in long-term care (LTC) often feel a lack of motivation, which affects their well-being and the people who care for them. Medicines don't always help, and other methods need a lot of time and effort from staff. So, experts are looking into technology like virtual reality (VR) and friendly robots to help. A recent study tried to create fun activities using VR and robots for older adults. The goal was to get them talking and interacting with each other, which can help fight feelings of apathy. The team included engineers, nurses, and doctors who worked with older adults and staff to design four different activities. Three of these activities used a humanoid robot, and one used a robot dog. Fourteen older adults from two different sites helped design and test these activities. The first group helped create the activities, and the second group tested them. The team asked for feedback after each session and made changes to the activities based on what they learned. They also asked staff members to set up the system to see if it was easy to use. The results showed that older adults felt more comfortable and confident using the robots and VR over time. The staff also found the system easy to set up. This shows that older adults and staff can play a big role in creating and using these kinds of technologies. However, more research is needed to see if these activities can really help reduce apathy in the long run. The study also highlights the importance of involving the end-users in the design process to make sure the technology meets their needs and preferences.