SOC IALLY ASSISTIVE ROBOTS FOR DEMENTIA CARE: A HUMAN-IN-THE-LOOP APPROACH TO PERSON-CENTERED CARE PROTOCOLS

Sep 28, 2026

Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) are explored as an approach to support aging in place and autonomy for people living with dementia (PLWD). The work develops SAR care protocols through human-in-the-loop (HITL) methods and person-centered design for PLWD and care partners in home settings. Iterative refinement is informed by interdisciplinary discussions, protocol tailoring meetings with participants, and a six-month pilot with five caregiver-care recipient dyads, emphasizing usability and responsiveness to cognitive and sensory needs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Care protocol development with HITL

Pilot study in home environments

Design modifications and usability improvements

Usability findings and future research

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 453 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.1543 SOCIALLY ASSISTIVE ROBOTS FOR DEMENTIA CARE: A HUMAN-IN-THE-LOOP APPROACH TO PERSON-CENTERED CARE PROTOCOLS Jing Wang, Sajay Arthanat, Momotaz Begum, Ola Ghattas, Marzan Alam, Moniruzzaman Akash, and Dain LaRoche, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States The integration of Socially Assistive Robots (SARs) in dementia care offers innovative solutions to support aging in place and enhance autonomy for persons living with dementia (PLWD) . This study explores the collaborative development of SAR care protocols using human-in-the-loop (HITL) and person-centered design approaches to support PLWD and their care partners in home settings. Grounded in interdisciplinary discussions between robotics scientists and health scientists, notes from the care protocol tailoring meetings with participants, and ongoing pilot study deploying SARs in real-world home environments with five caregiver-care recipient dyads over six months, this study highlights how direct user involvement and iterative refinement enhance SAR functionality and usability. Key design modifications included enhanced voice interaction, simplified task reminders, and personalized care routines, ensuring that SARs remained intuitive and responsive to cognitive and sensory limitations. To improve usability, the docking system was redesigned to function in various lighting conditions, while a tablet interface was incorporated for interactive guidance. User feedback was crucial in optimizing medication adherence prompts, mobility assistance, and social engagement features. Findings emphasize the importance of collaborative, person-centered refinement to create adaptive robotic systems that align with PLWD preferences and caregiving workflows. This study offers insights into real-world SAR deployment and provides a framework for integrating user-centered iterative design into assistive technology development. Future research should focus on scalability, ethical considerations, and long-term engagement to maximize SAR effectiveness in dementia care.

FAQs

What problem does the study address in dementia care?

It examines how socially assistive robots can support aging in place and enhance autonomy for people living with dementia (PLWD) in home settings.

How were the SAR care protocols developed?

Through collaborative development using human-in-the-loop (HITL) and person-centered design, guided by interdisciplinary discussions and participant care-protocol tailoring meetings.

What key design changes improved the robot’s usability?

Enhanced voice interaction, simplified task reminders, personalized care routines, a redesigned docking system for varied lighting, and a tablet interface for interactive guidance.

Sep 28, 2026

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