1. Environments

Physical environment

The robot will be deployed in people's private rooms in care homes. There won't be too many facilities since they will do daytime activities in the common area with a group of people. People's own rooms have a bed, a bedside table, a TV and two armchairs. All facilities are movable so that the robot can easily find its way and leave space for the elder to keep safe. All furniture corners are wrapped so that even if patients accidentally knock on it, no severe injuries will happen. When relatives come, they can sit on the armchairs; at other times, patients can put the armchairs aside and do some non-strenuous exercise. There are places for notes, showing the basic information that the patient needs to remember. Besides, medicine and required items are placed within reachable distance.

Social environment

The care home is located in the countryside but not far from the city centre, allowing relatives to visit the patients with a certain frequency to ensure that the robot can be of good use.

Around 50 people over the age of 60 live there, 80% of whom have memory loss problems. To ensure that each patient is well cared for, five professional nursing staff also live in the care home to ensure daily care is provided. In addition, a nutritionist and two chefs develop healthy eating plans for the patients and prepare delicious meals. Occasionally, on certain days, especially at weekends, about 10 volunteers also come to the care home to help out.