Harmehr Sekhon

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Harmehr Sekhon’s research sits at the vital intersection of geriatric mental health and socially assistive robotics, exploring how technology can combat the epidemic of loneliness in long-term care. Her work investigates whether humanoid robots can provide meaningful social interaction for older adults, particularly in settings where traditional human contact is limited by safety measures or staffing shortages. Sekhon’s most cited paper, a pilot randomized controlled trial protocol (11 citations), rigorously tests a humanoid robot intervention against treatment as usual, directly addressing the 42% loneliness rate among long-term care residents. Her co-authored piece, “Robots in Geriatric Mental Health: Pipe Dream or Viable Solution?” (4 citations), further frames this debate, weighing the ethical and practical viability of robotic companionship against clinical needs. By designing evidence-based protocols for real-world care homes, Sekhon is helping to move robot-assisted therapy from speculative concept to measurable intervention. Her work is particularly timely given the COVID-19 pandemic’s exacerbation of social isolation, positioning her as a key voice in the growing field of technology-enabled mental health support for aging populations.