Social Robots in Elderly Care: A Systematic Review of the Effectiveness on Formal and Informal Caregivers

Abstract Social robots have emerged as a potential intervention in elderly care, which may alleviate the caregiving burden, promote the health of caregivers, and influence the relationship between older adults and caregivers. This systematic review aims to investigate the effectiveness of social robots on the outcome of caregivers of older adults. Relevant literature was searched in seven electronic databases, and a total of 11 relevant articles were included after screening. The results showed that social robots had an impact on the caregiver’s workload, well-being, and interaction with older adults. However, there was no consistent evidence that the effects were all positive. Social robots could bring positive feelings to caregivers, increase communication with older adults, and reduce physical labor; however, they could also increase the time caregivers spend on using and training to use robots and reduce their quality of life. In addition, different types of social robots will have various impacts on caregivers. The existing results highlight the potential of social robots, but the evidence is limited to formulating conclusions about the direct effect on caregivers of older adults. The effectiveness of social robots on caregivers deserves more exploration, and more high-quality studies are recommended.