The (Cost)Effectiveness of a Social Robot for Persons with Problems in Daily Structure and Planning in Disability Care

Many individuals receiving long-term disability care experience problems in daily structure and planning. This includes people with autism spectrum disorder, mild to moderate intellectual disability, acquired brain injury and/or Down syndrome. A large number of these individuals need assistance in carrying out daily activities due to these difficulties in planning and organisation. these difficulties include for example being on time for appointments, getting up and going to bed on time, self-care (forgetting to eat or take medication), performing household tasks, and remembering information. Both professional caregivers and clients invest a significant amount of effort, time, and enery into structuring and creating an overview in daily planning. The use of a social robot that can be programmed to assist with reminders and guidance offers opportunities for both clients and professional caregivers: * The use of the social robot is expected to lead to more independence and improved well-being for the participant. * Because the social robot potentially shortens or takes over support moments, professional caregivers might, for example, be deployed more efficiently. * Positive effects may also be observed in the relationship between professional caregiver and client: when the client functions more independently and their well-being improves, professional caregivers expectedly experience more job satisfaction, which is important for the quality of care and retention of care staff. The purpose of this study is to research the effectiveness of a social robot in long-term disability care. The study follows participants and their professional caregivers in their daily care setting, first without the social robot (care as usual), then while using the social robot. This study contributes to knowledge about the effective deployment of technology in long-term disability care.