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As more of us live longer, can robots help us maintain healthier, more independent and dignified lives? The robots I\u2019ve been studying are friendly, helpful machines that can talk, remind, monitor \u2013 and even offer a form of companionship for older people.<\/p>\n
By 2050, the global population of adults aged 60 and above is\u00a0projected to surpass 2 billion<\/a>, posing significant health, social and economic challenges worldwide. As people age, they often experience\u00a0a gradual decline<\/a>\u00a0in both physical and cognitive capabilities, which can\u00a0threaten their ability<\/a>\u00a0to live independently.<\/p>\n Daily tasks such as cooking, managing medications or simply getting up from a chair become more difficult, especially for people with\u00a0mobility impairments<\/a>\u00a0or those living in environments that lack adequate support \u2013 such as poor housing, limited access to transport, or underfunded healthcare services.<\/p>\n Supporting older adults<\/a>\u00a0to maintain autonomy in daily life should be\u00a0one of the most pressing goals<\/a>\u00a0of modern healthcare systems, particularly as the\u00a0demand for care<\/a>\u00a0increasingly outweighs available resources.<\/p>\n My research at Nottingham Trent University<\/a>, in collaboration with colleagues at Sheffield Hallam University and Loughborough University, explored how socially assistive robots \u2013 often resembling a human or pet \u2013 and other monitoring technologies can support older people at home to maintain their independence without needing traditional human care.<\/p>\n In our research<\/a>, we spoke to older adults from diverse backgrounds, including people with physical disabilities and those on lower incomes. Many were open to the idea of a robot at home, particularly if it could be personalised, affordable and easy to use. They often welcomed the potential for socially assistive robots and home sensors to help them stay active and independent.<\/p>\n Robots can remind us to move around, take medication, or contact a friend. For those with physical impairments, they can assist with tasks that require strength or grip, such as lifting shopping bags or opening jars.<\/p>\n But the picture isn\u2019t all rosy. A tool meant to help can backfire if it\u2019s too demanding or poorly designed.<\/p>\n In our follow-up study<\/a>, we looked at how people interact with a robot while completing everyday thinking tasks such as following instructions or solving puzzles. One example is the\u00a0trail-making test<\/a>, a tool often used to assess how well someone can pay attention, process information quickly, and switch between different mental tasks. These are all skills we rely on in daily life \u2013 whether it\u2019s navigating public transport, cooking from a recipe, or managing bills.<\/p>\n We found the robot improved a person\u2019s performance and reduced how mentally taxing the task felt, but only up to a point. When the robot gave too much information at once, people became overwhelmed. This highlights a crucial finding: robots must be designed with the user\u2019s cognitive abilities and limits in mind.<\/p>\n