When robots care: Public deliberations on how technology and humans may support independent living for older adults

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 211; pp. 330 - 337
• Main Authors: Lehoux, P., Grimard, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2018
• Subjects: Aging; Canada; Empirical ethics; Health technology; Home care; Independent living; Public engagement; Qualitative research; Robots; Qualitative research; Canada; Home care; Public engagement; Aging; Empirical ethics; Independent living; Robots; Health technology
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.06.038

While assistive robots receive growing attention as a potential solution to support older adults to live independently, several scholars question the underlying social, ethical and health policy assumptions. One perplexing issue is determining whether assistive robots should be introduced to supplement caregivers or substitute them. Current state of knowledge indicates that users and caregivers consider that robots should not aim to replace humans, but could perform certain tasks. This begs the question of the nature and scope of the tasks that can be delegated to robots and of those that should remain under human responsibility. Considering that such tasks entail a range of actions that affect the meaning of caregiving and care receiving, this article offers sociological insights into the ways in which members of the public reason around assistive actions, be they performed by humans, machines or both. Drawing on a prospective public deliberation study that took place in Quebec (Canada) in 2014 with participants (n = 63) of different age groups, our findings clarify how they envisage what robots can and cannot do to assist older people, and when and why delegating certain tasks to robots becomes problematic. A better understanding of where the publics draw a limit in the substitution of humans by robots refocuses policymakers' attention on what good care entails in modern healthcare systems. •Social, ethical and health policy assumptions about assistive robots need to be examined.•Public members draw a limit in the delegation of care actions to robots.•Robots cannot acknowledge older adults as humans.•Need to focus on what good sociotechnical care entails in modern healthcare systems.