Exploring the Potential of Conversational Interfaces for Care of Older Adults: Insights from Stakeholder Workshops

This study aimed to explore the utilisation of conversational interfaces (CIs) by local care service providers (CSPs) and their potential applications in improving the quality of life for older adults. Two workshops were conducted with stakeholders to gather insights and requirements. Although currently not yet utilised by CSPs, stakeholders expressed their openness towards CIs and believed that older adults are very likely to appear receptive to them. Loneliness and isolation were identified as significant challenges, even among older adults living in care institutions. Key requirements for chatbots included complementarity to in-person interactions, user-friendliness, 24/7 availability, and seamless integration into daily life. Ethical considerations, data privacy, and security were emphasised, also highlighting the importance of transparency and limited data retention. Various use cases were discussed, such as assistance, self-management tools, and reminders. The financing issues remained inconclusive, but health insurances showed their potential interest in solutions targeting loneliness.