A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study

Nagata, Yuma; Satake, Yuto; Yamazaki, Ryuji; Nishio, Shuichi; Suzuki, Maki; Kanemoto, Hideki; Yamakawa, Miyae; Figueroa, David; Maalouly, Elie; Ishiguro, Hiroshi; Ikeda, Manabu

doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076

A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study

Nagata, Yuma; Satake, Yuto; Yamazaki, Ryuji et al.

Psychogeriatrics, 2025, 25(5), e70076

Number of Access:23（2025-12-07 08:01 Counts）

Identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/11094/102946

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Title	A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study
Creator	NRID 1000090832824 1000090832824 researchmap permalink yumanagata yumanagata Scopus Author ID 56670777100 56670777100 CreatorName Nagata, Yuma
	ORCID 0000-0002-9350-3162 0000-0002-9350-3162 researchmap permalink y.satake y.satake Scopus Author ID 57218214023 57218214023 CreatorName Satake, Yuto
	NRID 1000010623746 1000010623746 CreatorName Yamazaki, Ryuji
	NRID 1000080418532 1000080418532 researchmap permalink nishio.shuichi nishio.shuichi Scopus Author ID 23985862800 23985862800 CreatorName Nishio, Shuichi
	NRID 1000080422145 1000080422145 ORCID 0000-0003-4777-4110 0000-0003-4777-4110 researchmap permalink maki_suzuki maki_suzuki Scopus Author ID 55757304900 55757304900 CreatorName Suzuki, Maki
	NRID 1000020838932 1000020838932 ORCID 0000-0003-3662-1469 0000-0003-3662-1469 researchmap permalink hkane_gerpsy hkane_gerpsy Scopus Author ID 56521238700 56521238700 CreatorName Kanemoto, Hideki
	NRID 1000080403012 1000080403012 ORCID 0000-0002-2399-8366 0000-0002-2399-8366 researchmap permalink miyatabu miyatabu Scopus Author ID 16246912100 16246912100 CreatorName Yamakawa, Miyae
	CreatorName Figueroa, David
	CreatorName Maalouly, Elie
	NRID 1000010232282 1000010232282 ORCID 0000-0002-0805-7648 0000-0002-0805-7648 researchmap permalink read0013747 read0013747 Scopus Author ID 26643316500 26643316500 CreatorName Ishiguro, Hiroshi
	NRID 1000060284395 1000060284395 researchmap permalink manabu_ikeda manabu_ikeda Scopus Author ID 7404692889 7404692889 CreatorName Ikeda, Manabu
Subject	dementia
	depression
	loneliness
	proof of concept
	robot
	usability
Description	Nagata Y., Satake Y., Yamazaki R., et al. A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study. Psychogeriatrics 25, e70076 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076.
Abstract	Background: Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for poor mental health in older adults, particularly those living alone with cognitive impairment. Socially assistive robots (SARs) offer a promising approach to enhance social connection and emotional well-being in this population. This study aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and potential psychosocial impact of a 16-week, home-based use of a conversational SAR in cognitively impaired older adults living alone. Methods: This was a single-arm, exploratory feasibility study involving home installation of a humanoid conversational robot (RoBoHoN) for 16 weeks. Usability was assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS). Psychosocial outcomes, including loneliness (UCLA-LS3) and depressive symptoms (GDS-15), were measured pre- and post-intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using hybrid content analysis to explore user experiences. Results: A total of 11 participants were enrolled, including individuals with mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia and late-onset psychosis; nine completed the study. The mean age was 81.9 years, with an age range of 71–89 years. The mean SUS score was 81.7, indicating high usability even among cognitively impaired users. Small-to-moderate effect sizes were observed for reductions in loneliness and depressive symptoms (UCLA-LS3: r = 0.40; GDS-15: r = 0.64), although not statistically significant. Qualitative findings highlighted perceived companionship and increased opportunities to speak, while also noting limitations such as poor conversational depth, delayed responses and technical issues like battery depletion or sensitivity to background noise. Conclusions: The 16-week home-based use of a conversational robot was feasible and well accepted by older adults with cognitive impairment living alone. Although preliminary, findings suggest potential psychosocial benefits of SARs in this population. These results support the rationale for conducting a controlled trial targeting loneliness and depression in cognitively impaired, socially isolated older adults.
Publisher	John Wiley and Sons Inc
Source Title	Psychogeriatrics
Volume (Issue)	25(5)
Page	e70076
Date of Issued	2025-07-26
Language	English
Handle URL	https://hdl.handle.net/11094/102946
PISSN	13463500
eISSN	14798301
Relation.isIdenticalTo	DOI (Publisher Version) https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076
Access Rights	open access
CopyRight	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
oaire:version	Version of Record
Category	学術雑誌論文 Journal Article

Resource Type	journal article
Local Type	Journal Article
DCMI Type	Text
DCTERMS.bibliographicCitation	Psychogeriatrics. 2025, 25(5), p. e70076
DC.title	A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study
DC.creator	Nagata, Yuma
	Satake, Yuto
	Yamazaki, Ryuji
	Nishio, Shuichi
	Suzuki, Maki
	Kanemoto, Hideki
	Yamakawa, Miyae
	Figueroa, David
	Maalouly, Elie
	Ishiguro, Hiroshi
	Ikeda, Manabu
DC.publisher	John Wiley and Sons Inc
DC.language' scheme='DCTERMS.RFC1766	English
DC.type' scheme='DCTERMS.DCMIType	Text
DCTERMS.issued' scheme='DCTERMS.W3CDTF	2025-07-26
DC.identifier	https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076
DC.subject	dementia
	depression
	loneliness
	proof of concept
	robot
	usability
DC.description	Nagata Y., Satake Y., Yamazaki R., et al. A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study. Psychogeriatrics 25, e70076 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076.
DCTERMS.abstract	Background: Social isolation and loneliness are significant risk factors for poor mental health in older adults, particularly those living alone with cognitive impairment. Socially assistive robots (SARs) offer a promising approach to enhance social connection and emotional well-being in this population. This study aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and potential psychosocial impact of a 16-week, home-based use of a conversational SAR in cognitively impaired older adults living alone. Methods: This was a single-arm, exploratory feasibility study involving home installation of a humanoid conversational robot (RoBoHoN) for 16 weeks. Usability was assessed with the System Usability Scale (SUS). Psychosocial outcomes, including loneliness (UCLA-LS3) and depressive symptoms (GDS-15), were measured pre- and post-intervention. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using hybrid content analysis to explore user experiences. Results: A total of 11 participants were enrolled, including individuals with mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia and late-onset psychosis; nine completed the study. The mean age was 81.9 years, with an age range of 71–89 years. The mean SUS score was 81.7, indicating high usability even among cognitively impaired users. Small-to-moderate effect sizes were observed for reductions in loneliness and depressive symptoms (UCLA-LS3: r = 0.40; GDS-15: r = 0.64), although not statistically significant. Qualitative findings highlighted perceived companionship and increased opportunities to speak, while also noting limitations such as poor conversational depth, delayed responses and technical issues like battery depletion or sensitivity to background noise. Conclusions: The 16-week home-based use of a conversational robot was feasible and well accepted by older adults with cognitive impairment living alone. Although preliminary, findings suggest potential psychosocial benefits of SARs in this population. These results support the rationale for conducting a controlled trial targeting loneliness and depression in cognitively impaired, socially isolated older adults.
DC.rights	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
DC.format	102946
citation_title	A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study
citation_author	Nagata, Yuma
	Satake, Yuto
	Yamazaki, Ryuji
	Nishio, Shuichi
	Suzuki, Maki
	Kanemoto, Hideki
	Yamakawa, Miyae
	Figueroa, David
	Maalouly, Elie
	Ishiguro, Hiroshi
	Ikeda, Manabu
citation_publisher	John Wiley and Sons Inc
citation_language	English
citation_date	2025-07-26
citation_journal_title	Psychogeriatrics
citation_volume	25
citation_issue	5
citation_firstpage	e70076
citation_doi	https://doi.org/10.1111/psyg.70076
citation_public_url	https://hdl.handle.net/11094/102946

A Conversational Robot for Cognitively Impaired Older People Who Live Alone: An Exploratory Feasibility Study

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