As populations age, robots are being trialled to help with care, from reminding people to take medicine and fetching objects to simple mobility support and social interaction. They aim to ease the load on human carers and help older people stay independent at home for longer.
The most valued roles tend to be practical and dignified, supporting rather than replacing human contact. Designing machines that are safe, easy for non-experts to use and respectful of privacy is difficult, and warmth from people remains irreplaceable, so these robots are framed as a supplement that handles routine help while carers focus on the personal side.