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Reducing Loneliness in Stationary Geriatric Care with Robots and Virtual Encounters—A Contribution to the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Andreas Follmann

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, Vaalser Straße 460, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Franziska Schollemann

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Andrea Arnolds

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Pauline Weismann

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Thea Laurentius

    (Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Rolf Rossaint

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

  • Michael Czaplik

    (Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
    Docs in Clouds TeleCare GmbH, Vaalser Straße 460, 52074 Aachen, Germany)

Abstract

The bans on visiting nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, while intended to protect residents, also have the risk of increasing the loneliness and social isolation that already existed among the older generations before the pandemic. To combat loneliness and social isolation in nursing homes, this trial presents a study during which social networks of nursing home residents and elderly hospital patients were maintained through virtual encounters and robots, respectively. The observational trial included volunteers who were either residents of nursing homes or patients in a geriatric hospital. Each volunteer was asked to fill in a questionnaire containing three questions to measure loneliness. The questionnaire also documented whether video telephony via the robot, an alternative contact option (for example, a phone call), or no contact with relatives had taken place. The aim was to work out the general acceptance and the benefits of virtual encounters using robots for different roles (users, relatives, nursing staff, facilities). Seventy volunteers with three possible interventions (non-contact, virtual encounters by means of a robot, and any other contact) took part in this trial. The frequency of use of the robot increased steadily over the course of the study, and it was regularly used in all facilities during the weeks of visitor bans ( n = 134 times). In the hospital, loneliness decreased significantly among patients for whom the robot was used to provide contact (F(1,25) = 7.783, p = 0.01). In the nursing homes, no demonstrable effect could be achieved in this way, although the subject feedback from the users was consistently positive.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Follmann & Franziska Schollemann & Andrea Arnolds & Pauline Weismann & Thea Laurentius & Rolf Rossaint & Michael Czaplik, 2021. "Reducing Loneliness in Stationary Geriatric Care with Robots and Virtual Encounters—A Contribution to the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-10, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4846-:d:547606
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
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    1. Chun-Wang Wei & Hao-Yun Kao & Wen-Hsiung Wu & Chien-Yu Chen & Hsin-Pin Fu, 2021. "The Influence of Robot-Assisted Learning System on Health Literacy and Learning Perception," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Lea Peroni & Didier Armaingaud & Tassadit Yakoubi & Monique Rothan-Tondeur, 2022. "Social Representations of Urinary Incontinence in Caregivers and General Population: A Focus Group Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-12, September.
    3. Melanie Zirves & Ibrahim Demirer & Holger Pfaff, 2021. "Everyday Life and Social Contacts of Dementia and Non-Dementia Residents over 80 Years in Long-Term Inpatient Care: A Multi-Level Analysis on the Effect of Staffing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-18, October.

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