Supporting Social Engagement in Long-Term Care Through Paired Socially Assistive Robot-Virtual Reality Activities for Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment and Apathy

Introduction

Older adults living in long-term care settings, particularly those with cognitive impairment and apathy, frequently experience reduced social engagement. Socially assistive robots and virtual reality systems may help support engagement, but little is known about whether they can sustain engagement during real-world deployment while also facilitating interaction between older adults. This study examined whether socially structured socially assistive robot-virtual reality (SAR-VR) systems could sustain engagement and support human-human interaction during repeated use in long-term care settings.