New AI-Powered Robots Could Combat Loneliness Among Older Adults
University of Houston’s ELARA Lab Pioneering Next-generation Technology to Bridge the Gap in Elder Care and Emotional Support
New AI-Powered Robots Could Combat Loneliness Among Older Adults
University of Houston’s ELARA Lab Pioneering Next-generation Technology to Bridge the Gap in Elder Care and Emotional Support
As artificial intelligence and robotics become increasingly present in daily life, researchers at the University of Houston are exploring whether “pet-like” robots and adaptive AI could be the future of companionship and care for older adults.
At the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture & Design, the Empathetic Lifespan AI & Robotics for Aging (ELARA) Lab seeks to bridge the generational technology gap, exploring how adaptive AI, companion robots and empathetic design are transforming how adults, people with disabilities, families and care teams interact with modern technology. Rather than treating aging as a technology problem to solve, the lab approaches it as a design challenge rooted in dignity, trust and human connection.
Assistant Professor Chorong Park, head of ELARA Lab, is developing practical guidelines for AI products that remain sustainable across a person's entire lifespan. In collaboration with other UH faculty, Park aims to build a companion robot that both supports the emotional well-being of older adults and acts as a functional tool for nurses and caregivers.
“The more older adults are excluded from technology development, the worse those technology gaps will become.”
The need for this technology is pressing. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shows nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated — a condition linked to increased risks of dementia, heart disease and stroke.
But Park’s research does not begin with the assumption that older adults need simpler technology. Instead, it challenges a deeper bias in the technology industry: the tendency to design AI for younger, able-bodied users while leaving older adults out of the development process.
“The more older adults are excluded from technology development, the worse those technology gaps will become,” Park said. “AI and the majority of technologies are created for younger people, so my research method integrates older adults directly into the design process.”
Chorong Park, associate professor of user experience and user interaction design
Chorong Park, associate professor of user experience and user interaction design
“The more older adults are excluded from technology development, the worse those technology gaps will become.”
Assistant Professor Chorong Park, head of ELARA Lab, is developing practical guidelines for AI products that remain sustainable across a person's entire lifespan. In collaboration with other UH faculty, Park aims to build a companion robot that both supports the emotional well-being of older adults and acts as a functional tool for nurses and caregivers.
The need for this technology is pressing. A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shows nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated — a condition linked to increased risks of dementia, heart disease and stroke.
Chorong Park, associate professor of user experience and user interaction design
Chorong Park, associate professor of user experience and user interaction design
But Park’s research does not begin with the assumption that older adults need simpler technology. Instead, it challenges a deeper bias in the technology industry: the tendency to design AI for younger, able-bodied users while leaving older adults out of the development process.
“The more older adults are excluded from technology development, the worse those technology gaps will become,” Park said. “AI and the majority of technologies are created for younger people, so my research method integrates older adults directly into the design process.”
Co-designing with Care
A senior volunteer builds their own idea of a model companion robot out of air-dry clay at the Mamie George Community Center.
A senior volunteer builds their own idea of a model companion robot out of air-dry clay at the Mamie George Community Center.
From top left: Volunteers interact with the companion robots Emo, Loona and Muflin, which are existing market robots. Their feedback will be used to help UH researchers design their own robot.
From top left: Volunteers interact with the companion robots Emo, Loona and Muflin, which are existing market robots. Their feedback will be used to help UH researchers design their own robot.
ELARA Lab focuses on enhancing “trust cues” in robots to improve user experience and has even developed augmented reality games to foster intergenerational connections. However, privacy concerns remain a primary hurdle.
A recent study by Park, published by the Association for Computing Machinery, found that the fear of “severe surveillance” can prevent older adults from adopting new technologies.
“We need to take all the needs of older adults seriously,” Park said. “They won't use the robot if they don't feel at ease or if they feel they are being constantly watched.”
For companion robots to be accepted, they must do more than function well. They must respect privacy, adapt to physical abilities and respond to emotional needs without making users feel monitored, diminished or dependent.
That principle guided ELARA Lab’s recent collaboration with the Mamie George Community Center in Richmond.
Participants there weren't just test subjects — they were "co-designers." Residents worked with UH undergraduate students to provide feedback on existing market robots — such as the desktop character Emo and the therapeutic robotics Moflin and Cupboo — and even used air-dry clay to model their ideal daily assistants. The feedback will be used to help UH researchers design a new robot.
“From this research experience, I learned that a big chunk of this demographic is seeking more companionship and emotional support in their lives,” said Anika Vadlamudi, senior biology student and researcher at the lab. “Being able to participate in hands-on research while also speaking directly with members of our community gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges many older adults face.”
Undergraduate ELARA Lab researchers also conducted a parallel study on campus to observe how younger adults respond to companion robots. Junior health student Jana Qaddoura said the two groups shared more similarities than expected.
“Both the young adult session and the older adult session’s initial observations suggested a need for companion robots to have features pertaining to functionality, such as setting timers, setting reminders for certain tasks based on schedule — physical activity, meetings, taking medication — and providing weather updates,” Qaddoura said.
ELARA Lab focuses on enhancing “trust cues” in robots to improve user experience and has even developed augmented reality games to foster intergenerational connections. However, privacy concerns remain a primary hurdle.
A recent study by Park, published by the Association for Computing Machinery, found that the fear of “severe surveillance” can prevent older adults from adopting new technologies.
“We need to take all the needs of older adults seriously,” Park said. “They won't use the robot if they don't feel at ease or if they feel they are being constantly watched.”
A senior volunteer builds their own idea of a model companion robot out of air-dry clay at the Mamie George Community Center.
A senior volunteer builds their own idea of a model companion robot out of air-dry clay at the Mamie George Community Center.
For companion robots to be accepted, they must do more than function well. They must respect privacy, adapt to physical abilities and respond to emotional needs without making users feel monitored, diminished or dependent.
That principle guided ELARA Lab’s recent collaboration with the Mamie George Community Center in Richmond.
Participants there weren't just test subjects — they were "co-designers." Residents worked with UH undergraduate students to provide feedback on existing market robots — such as the desktop character Emo and the therapeutic robotics Moflin and Cupboo — and even used air-dry clay to model their ideal daily assistants. The feedback will be used to help UH researchers design a new robot.
From top left: Volunteers interact with the companion robots Emo, Loona and Muflin, which are existing market robots. Their feedback will be used to help UH researchers design their own robot.
From top left: Volunteers interact with the companion robots Emo, Loona and Muflin, which are existing market robots. Their feedback will be used to help UH researchers design their own robot.
“From this research experience, I learned that a big chunk of this demographic is seeking more companionship and emotional support in their lives,” said Anika Vadlamudi, senior biology student and researcher at the lab. “Being able to participate in hands-on research while also speaking directly with members of our community gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges many older adults face.”
Undergraduate ELARA Lab researchers also conducted a parallel study on campus to observe how younger adults respond to companion robots. Junior health student Jana Qaddoura said the two groups shared more similarities than expected.
“Both the young adult session and the older adult session’s initial observations suggested a need for companion robots to have features pertaining to functionality, such as setting timers, setting reminders for certain tasks based on schedule — physical activity, meetings, taking medication — and providing weather updates,” Qaddoura said.
Challenging
‘Techno-ageism’
Another core component of the lab's mission is dismantling “techno-ageism,” the misconception that older adults are incapable of learning or using new technology. Park believes AI models and human volunteers must simply learn how to better connect with older adults and explain new technologies in a common language.
Park argues that the issue is not older adults’ ability. It is whether technology is designed, explained and introduced in ways that respect their experience.
“Many technology designs are based on the assumption that older people can’t use them, but that’s not true,” Park said.
For Park, building better AI for aging populations requires more than advanced algorithms. It requires language, trust and participation. It requires researchers, designers and technologists to meet older adults where they are — and to recognize them as active contributors to the future of human-robot interaction.
UH undergraduate researcher Anika Vadlamudi showcases an example of storyboarding your ideal companion robot.
UH undergraduate researcher Anika Vadlamudi showcases an example of storyboarding your ideal companion robot.
ELARA Lab’s work is also expanding beyond Houston. Park is forming a global research network to address the shared challenges of aging societies around the world. “Aging is a global challenge, and we have things to learn from each other,” she said. “By collaborating with different international universities and organizations, we share the knowledge necessary to support aging populations everywhere.”
ELARA Lab is part of a robust and expanding body of work at UH, where AI is being treated as a primary engine for industrial and societal progress.
More than 140 faculty researchers are leading over $70 million in AI-related funded research. This portfolio spans critical sectors including healthcare, resilient infrastructure, cybersecurity and advanced mathematics — advancing innovations that are essential to both the Houston economy and national competitiveness. UH is also home to four research centers and institutes dedicated to AI in business, law and data sciences.
UH undergraduate researcher Noorul Maqbool helps a senior volunteer build a model companion robot out of clay.
UH undergraduate researcher Noorul Maqbool helps a senior volunteer build a model companion robot out of clay.
Associate Professor Chorong Park helps a senior volunteer with their robot companion storyboard.
Associate Professor Chorong Park helps a senior volunteer with their robot companion storyboard.
“Aging is a global challenge, and we have things to learn from each other.”
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