Robotic Nursing in Elderly Care: AI-Supported Systems, Theoretical Frameworks, and Clinical Applications
Chapter from the book:
Karakurt,
P.
&
Fırat,
M.
(eds.)
2025.
Current Approaches in The Field of Health.
Synopsis
Global population ageing is increasing demand for long-term care and placing growing pressure on nursing services worldwide. Projections from the United Nations and the World Health Organization indicate that the proportion of older adults will continue to rise, with care needs expanding faster than the healthcare workforce. Accordingly, gerontechnology, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI)–supported solutions have become increasingly prominent as approaches to supporting care delivery, alleviating nursing workload, and improving the quality and safety of care. Robotic nursing is informed by person-centered and relationship-based frameworks for technology-mediated care, namely Nursing as Caring, Technological Competency as Caring in Nursing, and the Transactive Relationship Theory. Current applications indicate that robotic and AI-supported systems are being implemented across a broad range of domains, including surgical support, direct care, monitoring, logistics, and clinical decision-making. Technologies such as the Da Vinci surgical system, Robear/RIBA, Cody, Veebot, robotic medication dispensing and transport systems, Telenoid, and Atacan exemplify the diverse ways in which these systems are applied in clinical and care settings. Socially assistive robots—both humanoid and animal-like—have also been explored for their potential to reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Nevertheless, privacy and ethical concerns, user acceptance, technical limitations, and potential reductions in human interaction remain key challenges. Overall, robotic and AI-supported systems should be conceptualized not as replacements for nursing care, but as complementary tools that strengthen person-centered nursing practice.
