Ethical implications in using robots among older adults living with dementia
This academic paper examines the ethical implications, dilemmas, and social perspectives surrounding the use of social and companion robots for older adults living with dementia. It reviews existing literature across technical, psychological, and sociocultural approaches, highlighting issues such as consent, the replacement of human care, potential increased dependency, and caregiver burden. The study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder involvement and person-centered approaches to ensure ethical compliance and avoid ageist practices.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers, healthcare professionals, developers, and policymakers interested in the ethical deployment of care robots for vulnerable populations.
What the document contains
The document addresses the ethical, psychological, technical, and sociocultural implications of using social and companion robots for older adults with dementia. It evaluates issues such as informed consent, care burden, caregiver impact, user acceptance, and regulatory frameworks including the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act.
The text does not provide technical specifications for building robots, nor does it offer specific legal binding regulations outside of referencing existing European legislative frameworks.
- The use of social and companion robots for older adults with dementia raises critical ethical questions regarding autonomy, consent, and the potential replacement of human care.
- Existing research predominantly adopts engineering or psychological perspectives, leaving a gap in anthropological and sociological understandings of long-term impacts.
- Involving older adults, people with dementia, and caregivers in the co-design and ideation phases is essential to foster human-centric and dementia-friendly technologies.
- Socio-cultural factors, economic accessibility, and ageist attitudes significantly influence the acceptance and equitable deployment of care robots.
· 1. Introduction · 2. Ethical implications in using robots among older adults living with dementia - 2.1. The ethics of human-robot interaction among older adults: psychological, technical, and sociocultural approaches - 2.2. Ethics in artificial intelligence and robotics at the macrolevel - 2.3. The ethics of care in relation to the use of robots with older adults with dementia - 2.4. The acceptance of social and companion robots among older adults - 2.5. Robots' relationship with informal and formal caregivers · 3. Research gaps and future research on the ethics of using social robots and companion robots among older adults with dementia · 4. Ethical dilemmas in the implementation and assessment of robots among older adults with dementia · 5. Discussion and conclusions
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Fairness
3/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
Finally, fairness is not guaranteed either because economic difficulties mean that access to this technology is not assured
1. Introduction
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Dignity
3/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
autonomy, to avoid paternalistic attitudes and preserve human dignity; and informed consent.
1. Introduction
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
3/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
advocate for human oversight and coordinated European commitment and legislation, rooted in a human-centered, ethical, and sustainable approach
2.2. Ethics in artificial intelligence and robotics at the macrolevel
screening score · 2026-10-24
Privacy
3/5Protection of personal data and private life
Significant strides have been made in terms of data use and protection, notably with the introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation in 2018 by the EC.
2.2. Ethics in artificial intelligence and robotics at the macrolevel
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
3/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
Other areas of debate relate to the need for the following aspects: transparency, which means understanding the process used by IA tools and communicating well
1. Introduction
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
1/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
The use of robotics and AI needs to be legally regulated to ensure ethical compliance
2.1. The ethics of human-robot interaction among older adults
screening score · 2026-10-24
Impact Assessment
3/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
Efforts are underway to address these challenges through the development of the AI Act, which adopts a risk-based approach to ethical issues from the technology’s initial development phase
2.2. Ethics in artificial intelligence and robotics at the macrolevel
screening score · 2026-10-24