Experience With a Robot for Home Care and Its Acceptance by People With Dementia, Caregivers and Dementia Trainers

Experience With a Socially Assistive Robot for Home Care and Its Acceptance by People With Dementia, Caregivers and Dementia Trainers. A Mixed-method Intervention Study

Background:

Dementia rates are increasing worldwide and consequently burden global healthcare resources to a serious degree. However, there is a declining number of caregivers to provide care. It is for this reason that many new technologies, such as socially assistive robots, have been developed because of their potential to support caregivers in promoting the independence of people with dementia. Most of the (socially assistive) robots have so far been tested for people without dementia in mainly laboratory or institutional settings, like nursing homes. Consequently, there is a lack of knowledge about the possible uses of robots from the perspective of those affected by dementia in real-life/care situations (e.g. at home). Testing in a laboratory setting cannot capture the complexity and high variability of everyday situations occurring during the care of persons with dementia.

Methods

The design is a mixed method intervention study of a refined socially assistive humanoid robot. In total, three people with dementia, three relatives, three dementia trainers and three professional caregivers were included in the study. Quantitative data of technology acceptance were collected using the "Technology Usage Inventory". Qualitative data (main focus: experiences with the robot and handling the robot) were collected by means of observation and qualitative interviews. Movement data of people with dementia were collected by means of the eye camera of the robot.

This study helps to further refine and test a socially assistive robot for people with dementia living at home.

Inclusion Criteria:

Persons with dementia:

• adults
• living at home
• all types of dementia
• light and moderate dementia (MMSE 10 and above)
• light dementia: living alone or with a relative at home (if alone: the relative should live in the neighborhood and be in daily contact with the person with dementia.)
• moderate dementia: living with a relative at home
• receive professional and/or non professional care or no care
• speak and understand German
• have no physical, auditory or visual restrictions, as this would make the application of the interventions impossible
• do not take any dementia-specific medication or have been taking dementia-specific medication for at least 3 months; condition stable and no change expected during the study period
• do not take antipsychotic and antidepressant medication or have been taking them for at least 14 days before study start
• children and pets in the household after previous individual discussion

Relatives:

• relatives of the participating persons with dementia (adults)
• relatives means family members, like spouse, daughter, aunt, ... or significant others like friends and neighbors
• living or not living with the person with dementia in the same household (in the case of moderate dementia, relatives must live in the same household)
• person with dementia receives or receives no professional care
• the relative provides or does not provide care
• If the person with dementia receives paid 24-hour care (regardless of whether they have mild or moderate dementia), a relative still has to be recruited as a participant (This relative must live in the same house or household and be in daily contact with the person with dementia).
• speak and understand German

Professional caregivers

• adults
• nurses
• speak and understand German

Dementia trainers

• adults
• trained as M.A.S. (Morbus Alzheimer Syndrome) trainer
• train the participants with dementia at home
• speak and understand German

ExclusioncCriteria:

Persons with dementia:

• known aggressive behavior
• frontotemporal Dementia