VGo-Assist, A Mobile Telepresence Robot to Engage Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACTThis project s long term purpose is to adapt an existing telepresence robotVecna s VGofor remote care of persons living at home with early stage Alzheimer s and related dementiasADRDIt responds to the NIA s call for development of robots to support care management and independent livingpromote social engagementreduce lonelinessand assist family members and professionals in caring for patientsThis work addresses the NIA s strategic goal of developing interventions to maintain healthwell beingand function in the elderlyThe proposed socially assistive robotthe VGo Assistwill enable family members and professionals to provide mobileflexibleuser friendly telehealthcare to ADRD patientsThe proposed incorporation of an openplatform software architectureunique among at home telehealth robotswill encourage third party developers to create diverse AD specific applications that extend the VGo Assist s capabilities in diverseunforeseeable waysIts open architecture will make itin effectthesmartphone of telehealthUnder this Phase I SBIR proposal from Vecna and the New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centerdetailed functional specifications will be defined based on multi disciplinary inputThe specifications will be implemented in a working prototype in Phase IICapabilities will minimally include twoway vision and soundnavigation under control of a remote caregiverand support of medication management through automated and caregiver provided reminders and compliance verificationThe desirability and feasibility of additional featurese ga medication dispensing mechanismwill be evaluatedIntelligent robotics will assure safe navigation and self charging and may provide services such as raising alerts for patient wandering or other emergenciesThe VGo Assist will be distinguished from competitors by lower costmore extensive built in featuresand the open ended functionality enabled by its open platform software architecturePhase I Specific Aims areConduct multi disciplinary focus groups to identify possible features to integrate into the VGo Assist and probe user acceptability and utility of integration with home health data devicesCreate a functional requirements document specifying VGo Assist workflowsuser interface needsand target audiencesTranslate the functional requirements document intobusiness rulesof a front end interface and user experiencedevelop screens and mock upsCreate an open architecture specification and application programming interface for Phase II product developmentDeliver project report to funderincluding Phase I product description and market analysis PROJECT NARRATIVE Vecna seeks to adapt an existing telepresence robotVecna s VGoto support remote care of persons living at home with mild to moderate Alzheimer s disease and related dementiasADRDThe proposed remotelycontrolled devicetheVGo Assistwill enable family members and healthcare professionals not present in the home to provide flexibleuser friendlycare to ADRD patientsThe proposed open platform software architectureunique among at home telehealth robotswill encourage third party developers to create diverse eldercare applicationsmaking the VGo Assist thesmartphone of telehealth