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Evaluation guide · Last reviewed 18 August 2026
Evaluating Companion Robots for Dementia Care
Evaluate engagement goals, consent, distress, staff supervision and evidence before introducing a companion robot to people with dementia.
Who this is for
senior-living operators, nursing-home administrators, care groups and facility teams
Define a modest non-clinical objective
Evaluate engagement goals, consent, distress, staff supervision and evidence before introducing a companion robot to people with dementia. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.
Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.
Involve dementia-care professionals and families
Evaluate engagement goals, consent, distress, staff supervision and evidence before introducing a companion robot to people with dementia. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.
Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.
Observe distress, overstimulation and refusal
Evaluate engagement goals, consent, distress, staff supervision and evidence before introducing a companion robot to people with dementia. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.
Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.
Review privacy and content accuracy
Evaluate engagement goals, consent, distress, staff supervision and evidence before introducing a companion robot to people with dementia. For this part of the decision, document the current workflow, responsible users, normal operating conditions and exceptions. Avoid treating a brochure feature as evidence until the offered configuration and site assumptions are confirmed.
Ask the supplier to distinguish standard capability, project option, integration dependency and customer responsibility. Convert the answer into a measurable requirement or acceptance record wherever the outcome matters to safety, service level, custody, compliance or total cost.
A feature list is not an operating plan.
Projects become fragile when routes, users, exceptions, integrations and ownership are postponed until after purchase.
Use the pilot to answer a defined investment decision with agreed evidence—not simply to demonstrate that a robot can move.
Frequently asked questions
Is a companion robot a replacement for human companionship?
No. It can support selected activities or communication but should not replace relationships, staff observation or professional care.
What should a pilot measure?
Measure voluntary engagement, refusal, staff workload, incidents, content suitability and whether the intended activity actually improves.
What should we send for an initial assessment?
Provide the use case, users, environment, payload, route or workspace, systems to integrate, expected quantity, destination market and target timing. Sensitive details can follow under appropriate confidentiality terms.
What should appear in the quotation?
The quotation should identify configuration, scope, interfaces, deliverables, assumptions, exclusions, acceptance approach, support and commercial terms.
Related decision guides
How to Measure Senior-Living Robot ROI with a Workload Study
Measure trips, staff minutes, waiting, interruptions and service levels before estimating the value of a care-facility robot.
Do Robots Replace Caregivers in Nursing Homes?
Understand which repetitive workflows robots may support and which care responsibilities must remain with qualified people.