Robot for Alleviating Loneliness and Engaging Nursing Home Residents

NCT06174337 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 1R43AG073004-01
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 18
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Social isolation is an emerging critical challenge in the care of older adults. Nursing home residents engage for an average of just 12 minutes per day with an activity director, a situation further exacerbated by Covid-19. Social isolation has detrimental effects on health, evidenced by 48.7% of nursing home residents with an active depression diagnosis, and 61% have moderate or severe cognitive impairment. The ultimate goal of this project is to alleviate older adults loneliness and boredom and to improve their mood in an economically feasible and scalable way. The investigators will integrate the existing Vigorous Mind (VM) multidomain activities platform for older adults with an affordable autonomous navigating robot to remotely socialize with and engage long-term-care facility (Facility) residents diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) or early-stage Alzheimer s disease or related dementias (Residents). The VM web-based platform has been used for group activities in senior living facilities for eight years. A Resident s profile in VM automatically searches the web and presents their favorite music, reminiscence content, comedy, and personalized brain exercises. VM is secure and HIPAA compliant. A VM employee (VM Companion) with experience running activities in a long-term care facility will be introduced by the staff to a Resident as a new companion who will visit the Resident through the robot to keep them company. The temi robot can be instructed to go to room 312 and it will navigate its way to the room. The Resident will be notified that the VM Companion is arriving for a visit, and once in the room, the VM Companion will see and greet the Resident, and the Resident will see the VM Companion. Since the VM Companion has dashboard access to the Resident s background and interests via the VM profile, they will be able to meaningfully socialize and engage in relevant VM activities. The goal of this Phase I project is to test the feasibility of this idea and to collect preliminary data on its effect on loneliness and mood.

Conditions

Nursing Home Resident

Keywords

Robot; Loneliness; Nursing Home

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Overall experience with the robot - for the family

  5 point Likert scale from maximum of "very good" to minimum of "very poor"

  3 months

• Overall experience with the robot for the resident

  5 point Likert scale from maximum of "very good" to minimum of "very poor"

  3 months

• Ease of use of the robot for the family

  5 point Likert scale from maximum of "very good" to minimum of "very poor"

  3 months

• Ease of use of the robot for the resident

  5 point Likert scale from maximum of "very good" to minimum of "very poor"

  3 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change in Loneliness of resident

  3 months

• Change in depression level of resident

  3 months

Interventions

Use of Video Connection with Family via Robot BEHAVIORAL

A remote family member is able to connect via video with a nursing home resident.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 65 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Residents of 2 nursing homes in Massachusetts

You may qualify if:

• Over 65 years of age
• Able to read and speak English
• Recommended by staff or family member

You may not qualify if:

• Uncorrected vision or auditory impairment
• MoCA \< 22

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Northeastern University: lead
• Vigorous Mind, Inc.: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

New Bridge on the Charles

Dedham, Massachusetts, 02026, United States

Location

Maplewood Senior Living

Weston, Massachusetts, 02493, United States

Location

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 4, 2023
• First Posted: December 18, 2023
• Study Start: June 21, 2022
• Primary Completion: August 1, 2023
• Study Completion: November 30, 2023
• Last Updated: December 18, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (2)