Co-design of Robotic Technology with Care Home Residents and Care Workers

Abstract

This paper reports on a co-design workshop series with residents and care workers in care homes, in which they ideate robotic technologies by starting from basic functionalities. We investigate whether introducing technology components to older adults and care workers in care homes enables them to imagine usage scenarios for (robotic) technology in care. We compared outcomes and engagement across groups: one group of care workers, one group of residents, and a mixed group. Having an interactive prototype prompted most responses in the resident-only group. The inclusion of both care workers and residents highlighted the different and sometimes conflicting interests in an institutional care context, contrasting responsibility for safety and the experience of living in a care home.