Service Innovation Using Social Robot to Reduce Social Vulnerability among Older People in Residential Care Facilities

- Study 1 develops a conceptual model for the use of social robots in residential aged care facilities.
- Study 2 validates the conceptual model to reduce social vulnerability among older people.
- Aged care service innovation plays a mediating role between social robot services and reduction of social vulnerability.
- The use of social robots in aged care facilitates aligning social changes with technological changes.

This paper aims to explore the main factors of social vulnerability among older people and the improvements in social life after engaging with social robots. This paper also examines the influence of these factors on each other. Study 1 helped develop a conceptual model and research hypotheses by interviewing 17 specialists in both aged care and social robotics, using grounded theory methodology (GTM). To validate the conceptual model in general and its constructs and hypotheses in particular, Study 2 employed a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) based on the survey distributed among 335 aged care specialists in Australia. The results of study 2 support the indirect effects of social robot enablement and robot mediation on reduction of social vulnerability (socioeconomic accessibility and community ties) through aged care service innovation. It also supports direct impact of robot mediation on augmentation of community ties among older people. Both qualitative and quantitative results measuring the research constructs and hypotheses provide valuable information to managers of aged care facilities and social robotics scholars to improve the quality of life for older people. The implementation of meaningful advances in merging people oriented robotic technology and social vulnerability in older people has demonstrated effective initiatives, including bridging the gap by synthesizing multi-disciplinary interventions to ease social vulnerability.