Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19

Jordan Miller; Troy McDaniel

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22

Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19

Jordan Miller, Troy McDaniel

Human Analysis and Biometrics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

COVID-19 is exacerbating isolation issues faced by older adults, which may lead to increased risk for depression and other mental health issues. Social robots are being explored for their potential to alleviate these challenges through conversational therapy, companionship, and connectedness regardless of where older adults chose to age in place—from home to long-term care facilities. This is a discussion piece with the objective of raising awareness to the topic of social isolation within older adults and current limitations in the field of social robotics. We discuss the state of the art in social robotics for aging in place and bring attention to remaining challenges for addressing isolation and mental health especially during and after COVID-19. This paper provides a discussion on critical differences between environments where older individuals age, and how designs should account for these variations. Lastly, this paper highlights the physical and mental health issues of caregivers and provides a discussion of challenges that remain toward using social robotics to assist those who take care of the aging population.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings
Editors	Constantine Stephanidis, Margherita Antona, Stavroula Ntoa
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	164-171
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	9783030786410
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22
State	Published - 2021
Event	23rd International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2021 - Virtual, Online Duration: Jul 24 2021 → Jul 29 2021

Publication series

Name	Communications in Computer and Information Science
Volume	1420
ISSN (Print)	1865-0929
ISSN (Electronic)	1865-0937

Conference

Conference	23rd International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2021
City	Virtual, Online
Period	07/24/21 → 07/29/21

Funding

Acknowledgements. The authors thank Arizona State University, the National Science Foundation (Grant No. 1828010), and the Zimin Institute at Arizona State University for their funding support. Views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the NSF.

Keywords

Aging in place
COVID-19
Depression
Elderly
Independent living
Isolation
Long-term care
Pandemics
Social robotics

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22

Cite this

Miller, J., & McDaniel, T. (2021). Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19. In C. Stephanidis, M. Antona, & S. Ntoa (Eds.), HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings (pp. 164-171). (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 1420). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22

Miller, Jordan ; McDaniel, Troy. / Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19. HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings. editor / Constantine Stephanidis ; Margherita Antona ; Stavroula Ntoa. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021. pp. 164-171 (Communications in Computer and Information Science).

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abstract = "COVID-19 is exacerbating isolation issues faced by older adults, which may lead to increased risk for depression and other mental health issues. Social robots are being explored for their potential to alleviate these challenges through conversational therapy, companionship, and connectedness regardless of where older adults chose to age in place—from home to long-term care facilities. This is a discussion piece with the objective of raising awareness to the topic of social isolation within older adults and current limitations in the field of social robotics. We discuss the state of the art in social robotics for aging in place and bring attention to remaining challenges for addressing isolation and mental health especially during and after COVID-19. This paper provides a discussion on critical differences between environments where older individuals age, and how designs should account for these variations. Lastly, this paper highlights the physical and mental health issues of caregivers and provides a discussion of challenges that remain toward using social robotics to assist those who take care of the aging population.",

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Miller, J & McDaniel, T 2021, Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19. in C Stephanidis, M Antona & S Ntoa (eds), HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol. 1420, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 164-171, 23rd International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2021, Virtual, Online, 07/24/21. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22

Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19. / Miller, Jordan; McDaniel, Troy.
HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings. ed. / Constantine Stephanidis; Margherita Antona; Stavroula Ntoa. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021. p. 164-171 (Communications in Computer and Information Science; Vol. 1420).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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Miller J, McDaniel T. Social Robotics to Address Isolation and Depression Among the Aging During and After COVID-19. In Stephanidis C, Antona M, Ntoa S, editors, HCI International 2021 - Posters - 23rd HCI International Conference, HCII 2021, Proceedings. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2021. p. 164-171. (Communications in Computer and Information Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-78642-7_22