Social Robots: Can They Really Care for Us?

There’s a growing interest in social robots as a way of supporting older adults and hospital patients. Unlike faceless AI or purely functional machines, these robots are designed for interaction. They’re physical, approachable and built to connect with people. With advances in Large Language Models and more investment in humanoid robots, we’re beginning to see fresh possibilities for how they might be used.

Trials already under way

At Henley’s Consumer Futures Lab, we’ve been exploring these possibilities with local authorities and hospitals. We’re looking at how social robots can work with vulnerable groups such as older people and hospital patients, and what the barriers might be.

Some of the most studied examples include PARO, a pet-like robot used in dementia care to reduce agitation and loneliness. Humanoid robots like Stevie and ARI are being tested for social interaction, activity assistance and basic support in care facilities and hospitals. Robots (such as Moxi) are helping with hospital logistics, while companions like Mabu focus on supporting people at home with long-term conditions and medication.

These pilots show promise, but here in the UK and across Europe social robots are still far from being widely used.

What older adults told us

Our lab is less about building robots and more about understanding how people feel about them. A British Academy funded project gave us new insights into how older adults view social robots. Together with our colleagues Dr Ruby Zhang and Dr Alex Scher-Smith, we collaborated with Service Robotics and Reading Borough Council to work with locals aged over 60 to hear their views.

The positives were clear: the chance to connect with others, to access information more easily and to get help with daily planning. Many also saw value in practical household support. But there were also concerns – especially around cost, security, privacy and whether help would be available if something went wrong.

What healthcare staff think

We also partnered with Dr Apurba Chatterjee and his team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital to carry out a feasibility study on an elderly care ward. Healthcare professionals showed a general openness to trying social robots and confidence levels in using the technology were surprisingly high. One of the more interesting findings was that attitudes didn’t vary much by age – older staff weren’t more resistant to robots than younger colleagues, as people might assume.

The bigger picture

The potential benefits are wide-ranging. Robots could offer companionship to combat loneliness, provide emotional support for stress and anxiety (particularly in dementia), help with everyday living tasks and monitor health to ensure timely interventions. They could also reduce the pressure on carers by taking on some of the load.

Of course, not everyone values the same things. Older adults, family carers and healthcare professionals may all have different priorities. But taken together, these technologies could make a real difference – if the barriers can be overcome.

Main image credit: Royal Berkshire Hospital

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