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2023 Advancing Research on Care and Outcome Measurements (ARCOM)

Patient-reported outcome measures for social robots in dementia care

Can interactions with social robots improve the health and well-being of individuals living with dementia?

Julie Robillard, Ph.D.
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada



Background

Improving independence is vital for maintaining the well-being of individuals living with dementia in long-term care and home environments. Studies have shown that the use of devices called social robots can assist an individual by providing social interaction and are a promising new tool to support the cognitive health of older adults and individuals living with dementia. However, there are currently no tools available to measure the impact and usefulness of these devices in dementia care.

Research Plan

Dr. Julie Robillard and colleagues will develop a patient-reported outcome measurement tool to assess the impact of the use of social robots in dementia care. They will do this in collaboration with healthcare providers, a roboticist, a measurement expert, and with input from individuals living with dementia. Next, they will test the clarity, reliability, and accuracy of the new measure before evaluating it  with 10 individuals living with dementia. 

Impact

This project could shed new light on how social robots can impact independence and quality of life in dementia care. It could also yield a novel tool for improving the care of individuals with dementia. 

The ARCOM Grant Program was developed jointly with Leveraging an Interdisciplinary Consortium to Improve Care and Outcomes for Persons Living With Alzheimer’s and Dementia (LINC-AD). The funding partners for this initiative are the Brain Canada Foundation through the Canada Brain Research Fund, an innovative partnership between the government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada and the Alzheimer’s Association.

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