Towards Ethical Guidelines of Using Telepresence Robots in Residential Care
This study evaluates the use of telepresence robots for communication between elderly residents in care facilities and their family members through three field trials. It highlights benefits such as reduced social isolation and increased family presence, alongside significant privacy and control concerns raised by care workers and family members. Consequently, the paper proposes a draft of ethical guidelines for deploying mobile telepresence robots in residential care settings.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Researchers, care facility operators, and developers interested in the ethical deployment of telepresence robots in residential care.
What the document contains
The document covers field trials of telepresence robots in residential care facilities, analyzing the social benefits, privacy concerns, and operational impacts on residents, family members, and care workers, ultimately providing draft ethical guidelines.
The document does not provide legally binding regulations or formal statutory enforcement mechanisms.
- Telepresence robots can effectively help alleviate loneliness and increase family presence for elderly residents in care facilities.
- Privacy is a central concern, as remote driving and camera use can feel like surveillance or intrusion into personal and facility spaces.
- Residents, family members, and care workers agree that the primary elderly user should maintain control over accepting or rejecting calls.
- The proposed ethical guidelines categorize robot uses into well-accepted, moderately accepted, and less accepted activities to balance engagement and privacy.
1 Introduction 2 Background 3 Study Setting 4 Results 5 Discussion
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
2/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
The care workers were also unsure, would they have the right to end the call for the resident, as opposing to the will of a (disturbing or controllable) family member.
4.3 Care Workers' Perspective
screening score · 2026-10-24
Fairness
0/5Non-discrimination and equitable treatment
n/a
screening score · 2026-10-24
Human Oversight
3/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
Most importantly, the family members and the care workers felt that the primary user should have control over accepting or rejecting the call, although this is recognized to be in conflict with the usability of the robot for elderly persons
5 Discussion
screening score · 2026-10-24
Transparency
1/5Openness about how AI systems work and are used
The device should signal in a salient way that the connection is open.
4.2 Family Members' Perspective
screening score · 2026-10-24
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
n/a
screening score · 2026-10-24
Impact Assessment
2/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
In particular, we analyze the ethical (privacy) challenges that relate to mobile telepresence at a ward, and as a result, we present a draft of ethical guidelines for using telepresence robots in residential care.
1 Introduction
screening score · 2026-10-24