Sarah Kleiss

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About

Sarah Kleiss is a leading researcher in gerontechnology and dementia care, specializing in the integration of telepresence robots into long-term care and hospital settings. Her work focuses on understanding the human dimensions of technology adoption, particularly from the perspectives of frontline staff and care partners. Kleiss’s major contributions include revealing how telepresence robots can alleviate isolation for people living with dementia while also reshaping care dynamics. Her 2024 study, “Working with a robot in hospital and long-term care homes: staff experience” (22 citations), is a foundational piece that highlights the nuanced attitudes of healthcare workers—balancing enthusiasm for innovation with concerns about workflow and emotional connection. In her 2025 follow-up, “Care partner experience with telepresence robots in long-term care during COVID-19 pandemic” (7 citations), she documents how the pandemic accelerated the need for remote presence tools, giving care partners a renewed sense of agency and connection despite physical separation. Kleiss’s research is notable for centering often-overlooked voices—staff and family—in the design and implementation of assistive technologies. Her work is widely cited in health informatics and aging studies, offering critical insights for policymakers and technologists aiming to humanize digital care in institutional settings.