ABSTRACT
Unfortunately, restoring balance to the ecology is often not an easy proposition. For example, an elder could experience rapid decline as the result of illness or an accident. A physician might believe that a safe solution is to place the elder in an assisted living facility. However, the elder might not want to move there, the family might not have the financial means to do so, or no space may be available in an appropriate facility. Alternative measures are often put in place-and a more suitable solution may never be realized.We propose that assistive robotic products can address the inevitable change and instability of the elder ecology, and provide balance while allowing the elder to retain independence and dignity. Figure lc shows how future robotic products might reinstate the balance within the ecology by mediating among components that are not realizing the elders’ values and goals.
