This is a mixed-method study to assess the effectiveness of the SAR system. The study includes behavior/lifestyle intervention that are delivered via a robot and/or tablet. The study intervention is a Social Assistive Robot (SAR) System. The SAR system contains the SimpleC Platform, physical robot, virtual agent/robot.~The goal is to engage residents in a natural language conversation as psychosocial support (enhancing mood, mitigating the effects of loneliness, and enhancing social connection and communication) and provide value to the organization and its staff.~Research questions include:~Are existing and new residents engaged and satisfied with the Technology Intervention Program?~What are the benefits (health, behavioral, economic, and social) of the virtual agent and physical robot?~Which users will adopt the SAR system?~What are facilitators and barriers to SAR system adoption?~Does Technology Acceptance Theory explain adoption over time?~Do changing needs affect changing technology attitude?~What are guidelines for implementation and design?~Sample: 270 individuals will participate: 90 residents, 90 family, and 90 staff across different study locations. Enrollment will be stopped upon reaching saturation.~Participants in both conditions will have access to personal media, reminders, televisit, messaging, news, and wellness programs in their own room via the Companion.~Participants in the SAR condition will have access to social and health reminders as well as social and wellness programs facilitated by a virtual robot agent in their own room via the Companion.~Participants in the SAR condition will also have access to social and health reminders as well as social and wellness programs facilitated by a physical robot in the community area and a staff member (likely the activity director).~The goal is to offer SAR-facilitated group session at least once per week, for residents to attend at least one such session over the course of the study and two sessions/month.
This study will be conducted to test a Socially-Assistive Robot (SAR) system for residents in an Assisted Living environment. The goal of the SAR system is to enhance social engagement and connectedness. The system engages residents via robot-facilitated activities such as trivia and reminder and is integrated with the SimpleC Wellness Platform.