Elderly and care personnel’s user experiences of a robotic shower

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore the expectations and experiences regarding a robotic shower, from a dual user perspective. Design/methodology/approach This was an explorative qualitative study in which elderly and personnel were interviewed before the robotic shower was installed and again after four or five months of usage. Findings The elderly participants found the robotic shower empowering. The personnel’s experiences encompassed their own work conditions, as well as the user value for the elderly. A shared experience for both user groups was a more independent shower situation for the elderly. Research limitations/implications Low user frequency among the elderly may have affected the results; more frequent use may lead to different user experiences. Understanding whether and to what extent long-term use affects user experience is important for future adoption and implementation. Practical implications Implementation of digital assistive technology (DAT) should focus on the user value of the DAT for all possible user groups, as the different users may experience different values over time. In addition, approaching adoption and acceptance issues of DAT from a learned helplessness perspective may help users find value in the DAT and the independence these aim to provide, helping users maintain or increase quality of life. Originality/value This study presents a dual user experience of a DAT in an intimate care situation and shows the importance of including both elderly and personnel to fully understand the value of DATs.

Personalized Coaching via Texting for Behavior Change to Understand a Healthy Lifestyle Intervention in a Naturalistic Setting: Mixed Methods Study

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What contribution do robots make to the care of older people? A scoping review

“…Showering an older person can often be difficult, involving multiple subtasks which include: getting into the shower, applying soap, rinsing off with water and drying oneself (Naik et al 2004). All included studies used the robot in each stage of showering: washing, rinsing and scrubbing (Beedholm et al 2015, Bäccman et al 2020, Werner et al 2020. Three studies used a robot with a seat and mechanical arm (Bäccman et al 2020, Werner et al 2020, one study used a robotic bathtub, whereby the participant laid down in a way that allowed the robot to assist with moving the participant into a washing cylinder (Beedholm et al 2015).…”