The Communication Supporting Robot based on “Humanitude” Concept for Dementia Patients

摘要

It is important for dementia-care to communicate with patients. However, care staffs cannot have an enough time to communicate with them. There is one of the care methods for dementia person called “Humanitude”. The purpose of this study is a development of a communication robot based on “Humanitude” concept for dementia patients and their staffs. This robot may be able to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms for dementia patients, and reduce mental fatigue for the care staffs. We developed the communication model and “conversation” function, which is the basis of communication, and carried out the dialogue experiment with dementia patients using the robot. As a result, we could not get an effective evaluation about burden reduction. However, we could get a good evaluation about “Humanitude” under some certain circumstances. Therefore, it was suggested the potentialities of “Humanitude” using the communication robot.