An Affective Robot Companion for Assisting the Elderly in a Cognitive Game Scenario

Decreased physical, mental and social activity may lead to several cognitive disorders in the elderly. As an individual retires from work, the risk of cognitive-decline increases with age due to decreased mental and physical activity [1]. Engaging in cognitively stimulating activities such as playing board games or solving puzzles may reduce the risk of severe cognitive deterioration and protect against the development of dementia [2]. Furthermore, coping with the decreased social activity with the inclusion of robot companions may lead to positive long-term benefits as a result of modelling engaging human-robot interactions [3]. Such robot companions can assist the users in solving cognitive tasks such as puzzles, keeping them mentally stimulated and at the same time engaging them in meaningful affective interactions helping them to cope with the stress of their day-to-day life.