Developing an effective care model to empower caregivers to use a humanoid companion robot: an exploratory...

Social robots are increasingly explored as non-pharmacological support for older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and dementia, yet their day-to-day integration remains limited. This study centers on designing an affective care model that empowers caregivers to deploy a commercial humanoid robot.

An exploratory qualitative study comprised four observation sessions and ten in-depth, open-ended interviews. A two-phase observational protocol was conducted in a day-care center: Phase 1 mapped everyday activities and baseline interaction patterns; Phase 2 documented two robot-assisted sessions. Detailed descriptions underwent iterative thematic analysis to extract themes and construct a care model grounded in caregivers' practices.

Introducing the robot added care practices that reshaped group dynamics. Two overarching themes emerged: (1) stimulation, engagement, and reciprocity and (2) shared experience and resonance. Together they embody a person-centered, affect-oriented approach that guides caregivers in meeting residents' emotional needs. These themes were synthesized into a structured three-step model, triggering, imagining, responding, that shows how interaction unfolds and how learning is refined through continuous feedback.

The proposed care model sequence offers an actionable framework enabling caregivers to transform robotic interaction into a practical, intuitive tool. It provides a new method for training staff to integrate and adapt off-the-shelf robots within routine care, enhancing human-to-human engagement by capturing attention and stimulating memories. Given the global shortage of caregivers, empowering them to run structured robot-assisted sessions offers a scalable, cost-effective solution for health and care organizations working with people living with MCI and dementia.