ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the utility of social robots for older adults generally, and the application for people with dementia more specifically. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that dementia is a major public health priority and forecasts that the number of people with dementia will continue to increase alongside an ageing of the world population. One of the more recent and innovative approaches to the management of BPSD for people with dementia is the use of robots. Over the last decade social robots have been developed to create new opportunities for the person with dementia and to enhance their quality of life. Unlike assistive robots, social robots assist users through social connection rather than physical support. Social robots are also called companion robots as they interact with people in a socio-emotional way by following social behaviour norms and they encourage engagement, embodiment and interaction.
