While the number of older adults living alone is increasing and there are concerns about the impact of loneliness and anxiety on their health. Advances in robot technology are enabling people to talk with small robots in their homes, but research on the influence and effectiveness of this technology has only just begun. This study will explore the effects of long-term interaction with a communication robot, and more specifically, whether interaction with a social robot can reduce symptoms of anxiety and loneliness in older adults.

The project is financed by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI Grant Number 21KK0232 and by the Carlsberg Foundation Grant Number CF16-0004. It is a collaboration between Osaka University and Aarhus University.