ArticleJournal of rehabilitation and assistive technologies engineering
"It's always happy to see me": Exploring LOVOT robots as companions for older adults.
Article in Journal of rehabilitation and assistive technologies engineering. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Embodied robots in rehabilitation-oriented interventions for older adults with disability or cognitive impairment: a scoping review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Care Robots for Community-Dwelling Older Adults: An Integrative Review.Healthcare informatics research · 2025Article
- Ethical considerations in the use of social robots for supporting mental health and wellbeing in older adults in long-term care.Frontiers in robotics and AI · 2025Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: AI-enabled social robots present the potential to resolve the loneliness and social isolation of older adults in long-term care (LTC). There is limited research on how older adults perceive and make sense of these robots and how human-robot companionship is formed. This study investigated older adults' experiences using LOVOT, a social robot. Methods: Using an ethnographic study design, we introduced LOVOT robots to a Canadian LTC home for four weekly interaction sessions. Thirty-six residents, seven family members and two healthcare staff participated. Data collection involved observational field notes and conversational interviews. The analysis was guided by ikigai, a Japanese well-being concept. Findings: Reflexive thematic analysis identified four key themes. 1) Joy: The robot offers joy and excitement through interactions. 2) Acceptance: For older adults with mobility or cognitive impairments, LOVOT gives consistent positive responses, offering a sense of unconditional acceptance. 3) Creativity: The robot's non-verbal communication allows older adults to grow creative imagination, encouraging personal expression and expanding interaction possibilities. 4) "Not for me": Not all participants like the LOVOT robot. Conclusion: AI-enabled social robots show potential in supporting the psychosocial needs of older adults, which have broader implications for LTC practices and future research directions. Future research should further explore the creative utility of social robots among LTC residents.
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Registered trials
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