An interview study on socially assistive robots and professional care relationships

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Robotics in Healthcare
• Human-Robot Interaction

Background:

• Healthcare worker shortages and demographic shifts drive interest in robotic solutions for elderly care.
• Socially assistive robots (SARs) are increasingly used for communicative and relational tasks, raising ethical concerns about replacing human caregivers.
• Existing fears suggest SARs may disrupt professional caregiver-client relationships and substitute human interaction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of SARs on professional care relationships.
• To explore how SARs influence caregivers' professional self-understanding.
• To address ethical considerations surrounding SARs in elderly care settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative interpretive study design was employed.
• Constructivist grounded theory approach guided the analysis.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 professional caregivers and 4 stakeholders in Germany.

Main Results:

• Caregivers initially feared SARs would diminish relational and emotional care aspects.
• Practical experience led caregivers to view SARs as part of a triadic care model (caregiver, client, robot).
• SARs were accepted as tools to reduce physical workload, with caregivers emphasizing that emotional support remains a human task.

Conclusions:

• The use of SARs reshapes caregiver perspectives, establishing them as central mediators in a triadic care model.
• Caregivers maintain ethical boundaries, prioritizing human empathy and relational care, ensuring SARs act as supportive tools.
• The integration of SARs highlights the enduring importance of human presence and connection in advancing care technologies.