Stretching their Reach: Robotic Support for Older Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Early Alzheimer's Dementia, and Mobility Impairments

Abstract Assistive robots have the potential to enhance individual autonomy, reduce human burden, and lower healthcare costs associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Alzheimer’s dementia (AD), and mobility impairments in older adults, family care partners, and professional caregivers. StretchTM is a robot designed to support everyday activities through use of a lightweight telescoping arm mounted on a mobile base. This Phase II SBIR proposal builds on a successful Phase I project (R43AG072982) awarded to Hello Robot and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, wherein we conducted participatory design research to develop and test a suite of tasks that the Stretch assistive robot can perform to support independence, enhance safety, and improve quality of life for older adults. We identified the specific characteristics of the tasks for which older adults need support in their homes; designed end effector tools for Stretch to facilitate performance of these tasks; and designed an easy-to-use interface to control Stretch to carry out these tasks. In this Phase II proposal we partner with ClarkLindsey Life Plan Community to broaden the set of tasks Stretch can perform, focusing on two general categories of tasks (cognitive and physical) to support the needs of older adults with cognitive impairment (MCI/early AD) and/or mobility impairment. We will refine the remote control interface to be usable for professional caregivers and family care partners and develop a suite of autonomous activities that Stretch can carry out. We will explore the functional utility of Stretch in a range of home environments, including common rooms with multiple people. These efforts will yield a scalable, affordable, flexible Stretch Cognitive and Physical Assistant that can improve the quality of life for older adults with a range of cognitive and physical impairments. The research objectives will be accomplished through the following specific aims: Aim 1: Refine and broaden the functional capabilities of Stretch to support older adults with a range of cognitive impairments and physical impairments. Aim 2: Advance the design of the user interfaces for each stakeholder group: older adults with cognitive and physical impairments, professional caregivers, and family care partners. Integrate remotely initiated tasks with autonomous task performance. Aim 3: Conduct embedded evaluations in naturalistic settings. This Phase II proposal directly meets multiple aspects of the NIH PAS-19-316 to develop “New technologies for in-home use or for coordination or delivery of services to sustain in-home living for individuals with MCI or AD/ADRD;” to design “Assistive robotics technology that can support a person in order to maintain or improve her/his independence, safety, and well-being when diagnosed with AD/ADRD and alleviate the burden of care;” and to develop “Novel technologies to monitor, assist, or maintain daily functioning of older individuals with AD/ADRD and other cognitive impairments.” The Stretch Cognitive and Physical Assistant robot has tremendous potential to support everyday home activities for older adults with MCI, AD, and/or mobility impairments, providing them with autonomy and increased quality of life.