Many people with dementia report that dementia affects their confidence to engage in social activities, leaving them lonely and isolated. The MARIO EU project addressed these difficult challenges using service (companion) robots. It involved a team of international researchers, experts, including people with dementia, working collaboratively to develop the companion robot ‘MARIO’.
The key objectives of the project were to address and make progress on the challenging problems of loneliness, isolation and dementia in older persons through multifaceted interventions delivered by service robots; conduct near project length interaction with end users; assist caregivers and physicians in conducting the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA); enable MARIO to support and receive “robot applications”; using machine learning techniques and semantic analysis; make MARIO more personable, useful, and accepted by end users; bring the MARIO service robot concepts out of the lab and into industry.
The user design led MARIO robot was deployed across 3 pilots, a hospital (Italy), residential care (Ireland) and community setting (UK). Three phases of testing were undertaken where MARIO engaged with people with dementia in each pilot site. A number of personalised applications were developed including My Music, My Games, My News, My Family and Friends, My Calendar, My Memories and My Chat. In the final phase the impact of MARIO was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. Key stakeholders at each site were involved in this evaluation and included a total of 38 people with dementia, 28 relatives/informal carers, 28 formal carers and 13 managers. The findings revealed that people with dementia are accepting social robots and participants with dementia were happy to have MARIO complete the CGA. Participants with dementia enjoyed engaging with MARIO and it was clear that there was an impact on loneliness as social engagement and connectivity were enhanced. The project has led to advances in semantic data analytics and unique applications tailored to better enhance the connectivity of older people with dementia. However, given the small sample sizes and the limited evaluation period, it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Nevertheless, some promising trends as to the positive impact of MARIO on the quality of life, social and cognitive health and loneliness in people with dementia is evident.
