Needs and solutions - home automation and service robots for the elderly and disabled

Numerous studies in the field of service robotics for elderly and disabled have been done. However, the overall user needs are rarely deeply considered. This work surveys the needs and challenges for assisted living at home for the elderly and disabled. Automation technology solutions for today and for the future to help the people to live better, safer and longer are researched. This work is part of future senior living-assistive automation-project. This project is shortly described. Research consists of three phases. In questionnaire-study phase opinions and needs for home automation and home robotics are analyzed. Interview-study phase includes interviews with different specialists, the elderly and disabled themselves, and excursions to care houses and other related institutions. Literature-study reveals user needs as well, but it concentrates more on solutions than the other phases. Multiple needs and solutions were found. They have been discussed and the results are presented in an organized table.