Effectiveness of socially assistive robotics during cognitive stimulation interventions: Impact on caregivers

Execution of cognitive stimulation interventions for cognitive training of individuals in need represents significant burden on caregivers in time and labor costs. Recent advancements in Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR) research can be exploited to reduce caregivers burden by work sharing with robots and supplementing/complementing human resources in execution of interventions. Current research evaluates the effectiveness of the SAR empowered cognitive training activity of Bingo Musical among thirty individuals with ID in multi-center trials. A multidimensional evaluation of caregivers workload was conducted; including subjective workload, time spent on users personalized interventions, and qualitative interviews with caregivers. The results of the research confirm a significant reduction in caregivers burden and raise a concern about the need of a specific training of the caregivers to take maximum advantage of SAR in health care.

I. Introduction

Socially Assistive Robotics (SAR) can be identified as an intersection between Assistive Robotics (AR) and Socially Interactive Robotics (SIR), which aims to provide assistance to humans via social interaction rather than physical interaction [1]. SAR has already been widely used in mental health service and research [2], primarily among children with autism spectrum disorder [3] and older adults with dementia [4]. However, SAR can also address the critical requirement of general enhancement of cognitive and social functioning through a range of activities among individuals struggling with a wide range of mental health concerns. Cognitive stimulation is an evidence-based psychological or psychosocial intervention, consisting of structured sessions of stimulating activities for general enhancement of cognitive and social functioning [5]. The impact of cognitive stimulation on people with dementia has shown that it can benefit cognition of these individuals and hence can positively affect their well-being [6]. It also has been shown that it can serve individuals with intellectual disability (ID) in similar fashion [7].