Two-Year Use of Care Robot Zora in Dutch Nursing Homes: An Evaluation Study

• Main Authors: Chantal Huisman, Helianthe Kort
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-02-01
• Series: Healthcare
• Subjects: long-term care facilities; older adults; gerontechnology
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/7/1/31

The use of the Zora robot was monitored and evaluated in 14 nursing care organizations (15 locations). The Zora robot, a Não robot with software, is designed as a social robot and used for pleasure and entertainment or to stimulate the physical activities of clients in residential care. In the first year, the aim was to monitor and evaluate how the care robot is used in daily practice. In the second year, the focus was on evaluating whether the use of Zora by care professionals can be extended to more groups and other type of clients. Interviews, questionnaires and observations were used as instruments to reveal the progress in the use of the robot and to reveal the facilitators and barriers. Care professionals experienced several barriers in the use of the robot (e.g., start-up time and software failures). The opportunity they had to discuss their experience during project team meetings was seen as a facilitator in the project. Furthermore, they mentioned that the Zora robot had a positive influence on clients as it created added value for the care professionals in having fun at work.