Functionality of service robotics for Aging-in-Place: What to build?

Abstract

Sustaining independent living of seniors is both desired by citizens and a goal for societal policies. Substantial care interventions are provided to European elderly citizens to support-independent living. This involves mainly human care provision. Robotics has great potential to answer the growing demand for support. While developing service robots to meet this need, the selection of its functionality should be increasingly guided by user needs and the societal perspective on care provision to support continued independent living and to optimize the future applicability of the robot. In this research inventories were made of problematic activities associated with independent living and of current care interventions supporting independent living in four European countries. On the basis of this material high potential robot functionality can be identified.