Reimagining Care: Designing a Social Robot Companion for Alzheimer's Caregiving

摘要

The global rise in Alzheimer's and dementia cases is a growing concern due to an aging population and age-related health issues. By 2025, there will be 7.2 million individuals aged 65 and older living with these conditions, an 11% increase. By 2040, the US will require a 235% increase in caregivers to meet the demand. While technology can't replace human care, it can ease the caregiving responsibilities. To address this, an interdisciplinary team collaborated with caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's to create an affordable social robot. This paper discusses the ethical considerations, functionalities, and accessibility of the robot. The result is "FRED" (Friendly Robot to Ease Dementia), an AI-powered socially assistive robot with a dedicated caregiving app. FRED aims to alleviate the impending caregiving crisis, offering support to caregivers and improving the care quality for those with Alzheimer's and dementia.