PhD conferral Ms Sandra M.A. Bedaf, MSc.

"The Future is Now; The Potential of Service Robots in Elderly Care”

Keywords: service robots, elderly people, living at home independently

Robots are booming business. A specific area that has generated considerable attention in recent years is the development of service robots for elderly care. A robot that can physically assist users in carrying out daily activities may help older people live independently for longer. This dissertation found that older people are more open to service robots than their caregivers or healthcare providers. The social behaviour of the robot appears to play a significant role in its acceptance, as does the robot's intelligence and ability to adapt to the user's needs and preferences.