Assistive robots to improve the independent living of older persons: results from a needs study

More than 70% of elderly people age 80 and older are experiencing problems in personal mobility. Assistive robotics can represent a concrete support providing also a support for caregivers, clinicians and nurses by reducing their burden. A total of 20 older people and 34 caregivers (formal and informal) were interviewed in Italy and the Netherlands to investigate and prioritize their needs concerning the personal mobility domains and their attitudes towards assistive robots. The data were analysed from a user point of view by means of thematic content analysis by underlying recurrent topics. The results revealed four categories of needs from the perspective of the older individuals: instrumental needs, rehabilitation needs, personal safety and indoor activities of daily life. Additionally, the results underline how personal mobility issues influence different aspects of daily life. Complementarily, three categories of caregiver needs were also distinguished: instrumental needs, rehabilitation monitoring needs and checkup needs. The highest percentage of participants showed a positive expectation towards assistive robotics. The results were clustered according to the robot abilities (i.e., motion, interaction, manipulation, decision support and perception abilities) as a list of functional and technical requirements that should be developed to address all the needs related to the personal mobility. Robotic developer teams that work in this context could take advantage of this research. Additionally, this work can be used as a basis for clinicians and nurses working in geriatric units to understand how the robots can support and enhance their work.Implications for rehabilitationThe incidence of personal mobility limitations affects 35% of adults age 70 and older and 72% of people over 80 years of age.Assistive robots can support elderly people during daily tasks: they could promote their personal mobility acting as a supporting tool.The results of the needs analysis revealed four categories of needs from the perspective of the older individuals: instrumental needs, rehabilitation needs, personal safety, and indoor activities of daily life.Three categories of caregiver needs were also distinguished: instrumental needs, rehabilitation monitoring needs, and check-up needs. The incidence of personal mobility limitations affects 35% of adults age 70 and older and 72% of people over 80 years of age. Assistive robots can support elderly people during daily tasks: they could promote their personal mobility acting as a supporting tool. The results of the needs analysis revealed four categories of needs from the perspective of the older individuals: instrumental needs, rehabilitation needs, personal safety, and indoor activities of daily life. Three categories of caregiver needs were also distinguished: instrumental needs, rehabilitation monitoring needs, and check-up needs.

80岁及以上老年人中，超过70%存在个人移动能力障碍。辅助机器人技术（assistive robotics）可提供切实支持，同时减轻护理人员、临床医师及护士的工作负担。研究在意大利与荷兰共访谈了20名老年人及34名护理人员（包括正式与非正式护理人员），旨在调查其在个人移动能力相关领域的需求并进行优先级排序，同时了解其对辅助机器人的态度。
研究从使用者视角出发，采用主题内容分析（thematic content analysis）法，通过挖掘反复出现的主题开展数据分析。结果显示，从老年人视角可归纳出四类需求：工具性需求、康复需求、个人安全及室内日常活动。此外，结果还表明个人移动能力问题会对日常生活的多个方面产生影响。与此同时，可区分出三类护理人员需求：工具性需求、康复监测需求及随访检查需求。绝大多数参与访谈者对辅助机器人技术持积极期待。
研究结果依据机器人的能力维度（即运动、交互、操作、决策支持及感知能力）进行聚类，形成了一系列为解决个人移动能力相关需求所需开发的功能与技术要求。从事该领域研发的机器人开发团队可从本研究中获益。此外，本研究可作为老年科病房（geriatric units）临床医师及护士的参考依据，帮助其理解机器人如何支持并优化其临床工作。
康复领域启示：个人移动能力受限的发病率在70岁及以上成年人中达35%，在80岁以上人群中达72%。辅助机器人可在日常任务中为老年人提供支持，作为辅助工具提升其个人移动能力。本次需求分析的结果显示，老年人的需求可分为四类：工具性需求、康复需求、个人安全及室内日常活动。同时，护理人员的需求可分为三类：工具性需求、康复监测需求及随访检查需求。
个人移动能力受限的发病率在70岁及以上成年人中达35%，在80岁以上人群中达72%。辅助机器人可在日常任务中为老年人提供支持，作为辅助工具提升其个人移动能力。本次需求分析的结果显示，老年人的需求可分为四类：工具性需求、康复需求、个人安全及室内日常活动。同时，护理人员的需求可分为三类：工具性需求、康复监测需求及随访检查需求。