Social robots tipped as future friends to tackle loneliness in elders

Emerging research is advocating for the use of social robots to address growing loneliness among seniors, according to a Canadian sociology researcher.

Fahimeh Mehrabi, a PhD student at the University of Calgary, has highlighted that one-third of seniors globally are experiencing loneliness, a trend that is increasing despite various intervention programmes. "One-third of seniors around the world are experiencing loneliness and it's only getting worse," said Mehrabi. "If we're going to solve this crisis, we need to look beyond providing short-term interventions like community-based programs, pet therapy and social skills workshops, because the evidence shows the most effective companionship for seniors is going to come in the form of a social robot."

Mehrabi's conclusions are drawn from a meta-analysis of international studies examining the capacity of social robots to reduce loneliness among older adults. Her research included examining different forms of social robots - pet-like, humanoid, and virtual voice-based assistants - and compared their use in different countries.

The findings are part of a presentation for the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences (Congress 2025), an event anticipated to attract over 7,000 scholars, graduate students, and practitioners to discuss a wide range of social science and humanities topics under the theme "Reframing togetherness".

Mehrabi's analysis suggests that social robots offer companionship capable of addressing the emotional and social needs of seniors, whether they live independently, in retirement communities, or care facilities. She noted that the technology can support senior well-being alongside other assistive devices such as mobility aids, fall detection tools, and hearing aids.

"The data is clear that social robots can make a difference, especially as our population ages and care gaps grow, so I think it may be time for Canadians to rethink what a companion can look like," said Mehrabi, who specialises in mental health among ageing populations.

Research shows that while Japan demonstrates the most widespread and effective use of social robots - attributed to a culture more receptive to technology - studies in the United States have indicated comparatively lower effectiveness, and Canadian use remains limited. Mehrabi suggests this could be due to heightened scepticism and privacy concerns among North American seniors and their caregivers.

Mehrabi is calling on technology providers to be transparent regarding how social robot technology operates, including data handling practices, in order to address privacy concerns and lessen social stigma. This, she said, will encourage wider acceptance and integration of the devices in elder care.

Discussing the root causes of loneliness among seniors, Mehrabi cited not only loss of loved ones and geographical distance from family, but also the loss of companionship itself, noting that living in group settings does not always guarantee meaningful social connections. "They may have interaction with people, but it's limited," said Mehrabi. "A social robot provides one-on-one interaction on both an emotional and social level, and can even encourage more frequent human interaction by helping them to connect with others through calling apps and texts."

"A talking robot may seem strange until it's the only voice a senior hears," she said. "Sometimes seniors are so lonely, they just need a companion and the results show that social robots are proving to be their future friend."

Congress 2025 is organised by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences in partnership with George Brown College and is sponsored by several academic and research-focused organisations. The event will feature thousands of research presentations across the humanities and social sciences.