Nursing homes in Denmark are using social robots

The municipalities of Aalborg, Viborg, and Skive are employing LOVOT in nursing homes

Nursing homes in three Danish municipalities are using LOVOT, a social robot with artificial intelligence designed and developed in Japan. The municipalities of Aalborg, Viborg, and Skive are utilising these robots to see how they impact the overall wellbeing of elderly people with dementia.

About LOVOT

LOVOT was designed with the primary aim of expressing love and spreading joy. The robots are cute and small, with big eyes and furry bodies. They are capable of interacting with individuals as they respond to touch, speech, and eye contact. This means that they can recognize their name, come if they are called, and laugh when they are hugged.

It is interesting to note that these innovative social robots have the ability to form relationships and mimic the behaviours of living people. In addition to this, they can also expand their vocabulary and develop their own unique personalities over time.

Effect on people with dementia

Nursing homes are utilizing these social robots to investigate the impact they have on the quality of life of those suffering from dementia. Henrik Steemstrup, the project manager from the Elderly and Disability Administration in Aalborg Municipality, explained that the LOVOT can bond with everyone – even those who are otherwise difficult to connect with.

“We know that people with dementia have a very great need to stimulate their senses in a safe environment, and we have an expectation that the social robots can contribute to this. LOVOT seeks contact with everyone around it but does not give up if it is rejected,” he said in a press release.

Steemstrup highlighted that while these robots may spark joy and improve quality of life, they cannot and should not replace human contact.

This project is currently being followed and monitored by scientists and researchers from the Laboratory for Welfare Technology at Aalborg University. Professor and researcher Birthe Dinesen noted that they aim to measure the wellbeing of citizens by analysing facial expressions and body language as well as levels of social interaction and acceptance of the robot. In the end, they hope to see a decline in the extroverted behaviour of those with dementia.