Robotics in dementia: Caregiving needs addressed by an assistive robot in combination with wearable sensors

Abstract

Abstract Background Rapid growth in people affected with dementia (PAWD) poses a significant burden in providing care and financial hardship on both the nation’s economy and the affected families. Dementia care expenses are expected to increase to over a trillion by 2050. Method The economic and caregiver burden demands solutions to address the growing dementia caregiving needs. I am working with an interdisciplinary team on employing an embedded ethics approach in combining robots, wearable sensors and an intelligent pill‐dispenser to complement human caregiving, specifically, medication management. My project focuses on designing a robotic assistant with special attention to the care needs of women, because two‐thirds of the PAWD, and two‐thirds of caregivers are women, and there is evidence suggesting men experience greater stress than women while providing care. Sensors worn on the wrist of the PAWD, that will track physiological changes, such as blood pressure, blood volume, heart rate variability and electro dermal activity, so that the effects of the medications can be monitored. Result The physiological information from the sensors will be transmitted to the robot so when the robot receives a notification from the pillbox alerting to medication time, it will bring medications to the PAWD as well as engage in a conversation, using the information from the sensors. For example, if the sensors indicate a higher blood‐pressure, the robot will discuss this with the PAWD and notify the clinician. Conclusion Discussion will focus on existing robotic solutions, end user needs, design considerations, safety and security, and categories of dementia care robots.