I. Introduction
The average age of the world’s population is rising, and over the next ten years, the number of older adults is predicted to rise by more than 60%, reaching 1 billion by 2030 [1]. Older adults may lose their social positions, friends, family, and health as they age [2], causing emotional challenges such as depression, loneliness, and self-isolation leading to mental well-being issues [3], [4]. The COVID-19 pandemic has nearly tripled [5] mental well-being issues due to greater stress exposure and social engagement restrictions that increased anxiety and fear levels, posing unique challenges for older adults after the pandemic compared to other age groups [6], [7]. Social robots have been suggested as a healthy ageing technology that promotes mental well-being [8]. Designing social robots need a comprehensive understanding of human behaviour, intellect, and diverse technological abilities [9]. As researchers and organisations build robots for older adults, it is recommended that they be aware of preconceived notions to understand how the technologies affect mental well-being [10]. Consequently, social robots for older adults could be designed using a User-Centred Design (UCD) approach that encourages non-designers to participate in co-design activities [11], which amplifies users’ voices frequently ignored in technology design and empower them in the design process [12]. By engaging older adults in robot co-design, technology can be adapted to their demands and abilities, promoting mental well-being and ensuring more effective designs [13], [14]. Prior research in co-design methods included older adults in different technological designs, such as mobile applications [15], websites [16], smart home applications [17] and assistive robots [18].