Managing active and healthy ageing with use of caring service robots
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing the acceptability and tolerance of a robot to people living with mild dementia and its ability to help with active and healthy ageing.
IRAS ID
202804
Contact name
Aimee Teare
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Stockport Council
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 28 days
Research summary
This study will test the hypothesis that the introduction and implementation of a companion robot in community based setting is both feasible and acceptable to both a population of people still living at home with mild dementia/memory loss, their informal carers and staff. The companion robot is part of a European Funding Research and Innovation project entitled Mario.
MARIO addresses the difficult challenges of loneliness and isolation in older persons with dementia (PWD), it focuses on building resilience through innovative and multi-faceted inventions delivered by service robots. It is a three year study with a complex international set-up over several phases and involves four other countries; Italy, UK, Greece and Germany. The overall aim of the project is to develop service robots to help reduce isolation and loneliness in older people, including people with dementia.
This study will test the tolerance of people living with dementia; their carers and staff to the introduction of a companion robot into community settings such as day centres and clubs as well as in small group interviews where the usability of Mario can be measured as well as the impact of the functionality of the robot can have on preventing isolation.
We will collect feedback on the acceptability levels of the robots from people living with dementia, their carers and family and staff.
This will then be used to inform later tests involving the robot and more potential interaction with people living with dementia. This ethics request is just covering the initial location of robots in community settings and the initial feedback around acceptability
In this ethics application we are seeking ethical approval to collect observational, and interview data from the key stakeholders- persons with dementia/memory loss, relative/ carers and health care staff, to contribute to the ongoing development and future evaluation of MARIO.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0253
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion