Care robots as enabling assistive technology: implications for quality of life and disability policy

Abstract

More than half of the older population of the European Union-28 reported difficulties with at least one personal care or household activity. Within the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, robotics needs to be better understood, as it has great potential for realizing human rights. The aim of using care robots is to provide physical, cognitive, or emotional support to older persons, their families, and care professionals. This chapter focuses on care robots as a form of assistive technology, referring to robotic assistance used in older people’s care in Ireland. The study has a qualitative descriptive design with an inductive approach using semi-structured interviews. The informants included technology developers, researchers, policymakers, advocacy group representatives, care providers, and care professionals. An in-depth understanding of ethical concerns, facilitators, and barriers to attaining the full potential of robotics would go a long way in enabling healthy aging and aging in place.