A Conversational Robotic Approach to Dementia Symptoms

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of robotic mediation in promoting conversation of older adults with dementia for improving behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). In the longitudinal study, we explored how the BPSD in older adults could be affected by use of a teleoperated android robot named Telenoid that could potentially promote conversation. This study was conducted at a long-term residential care facility, and it was a prospective, 10-week, single arm, exploratory user study. Diminishing the barrier of digital divide, the android robot provided those with dementia with a way to remotely communicate with others. BPSD were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH), and we investigated changes in the participants over time. According to NPI-NH scores, Telenoid could improve BPSD in older adults with "anxiety," and "appetite and eating change." The results indicate that as a non-pharmacological approach, daily use of the conversation promoting android robot could have a therapeutic effect on the BPSD in older adults.