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Social Commitment Robots and Dementia*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 February 2012

Kerstin Roger ,
Lorna Guse ,
Elaine Mordoch  and
Angela Osterreicher
Kerstin Roger*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
Lorna Guse
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
Elaine Mordoch
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
Angela Osterreicher
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Kerstin Roger Department of Family Social Sciences Faculty of Human Ecology 221 Human Ecology 35 Chancellor’s Circle University of Manitoba R3T 2N2 ([email protected])
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Abstract

In 2010, approximately 500,000 Canadians suffered from a dementia-related illness. The number of sufferers is estimated to double in about 25 years. Due to this growing demographic, dementia (most frequently caused by Alzheimer’s disease) will increasingly have a significant impact on our aging community and their caregivers. Dementia is associated with challenging behaviours such as agitation, wandering, and aggression. Care providers must find innovative strategies that facilitate the quality of life for this population; moreover, such strategies must value the individual person. Social commitment robots – designed specifically with communication and therapeutic purposes – provide one means towards attaining this goal. This paper describes a study in which Paro (a robotic baby harp seal) was used as part of a summer training program for students. Preliminary conclusions suggest that the integration of social commitment robots may be clinically valuable for older, agitated persons living with dementia in long-term care settings.

Résumé

En 2010, 500 000 Canadiens étaient atteint d’une maladie liée à une démence. On estime que le nombre des malades va doubler en environ 25 ans. Pour cause de ce groupe démographique croissant, la démence de plus en plus (le plus souvent causée par la maladie d’Alzheimer) exercera un impact significatif sur notre communauté vieillissante et ses soignants. La démence est associée à des comportements difficiles tels que l’agitation, l’errance et l’agression. Les prestataires de soins doivent trouver des stratégies novatrices afin de faciliter la qualité de vie pour cette population; d’ailleurs, de telles stratégies doivent valoriser l’individu. Les robots socialement engagés – conçu spécifiquement à la communication et aux fins thérapeutiques – fournir un moyen d’atteindre cet objectif. Cet article décrit une étude dans laquelle Paro (un bébé phoque robotique) a été utilisé dans le cadre d’un programme de formation d’été pour étudiants. Les conclusions préliminaires suggèrent que l’integration des robots socialement engagés peuvent se révéler comme utiles cliniquement en milieux de soins de longue durée.

Keywords

la démencesoins de longue duréerobotsengagement socialvieillissementdementialong term carerobotssocial commitmentaging
Type
Research Note / Note de recherche
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 31 , Issue 1 , March 2012 , pp. 87 - 94
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2012

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Footnotes

*

We thank the Deer Lodge Foundation and Deer Lodge Centre for ongoing support of the Interdisciplinary Summer Research Program and to Michael Kaan, manager of the Collaborative Research Unit and Jo-Ann Laopinte-McKenzie, chief nursing officer, for their inspiration and encouragement. We also appreciate the residents and families who so willingly assisted us with our research.

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