Designing Human–Robot Collaboration in Elderly Mental Health Services: A Review from A Service Design Perspective

Abstract

Population ageing increases demand for mental health support, yet research on care robots rarely addresses their integration into service systems. This scoping review examines service robots in older adult mental health services from a service design perspective. Scopus was the primary database, and staged screening yielded 36 studies. Thematic synthesis identified three themes: companionship and emotional support; dementia care and cognitive support; and human–robot collaboration and responsibility boundaries. Robots primarily function as supportive service touchpoints rather than independent diagnostic or therapeutic agents. They show potential for companionship, emotional support, cognitive stimulation, and daily care, but service handoffs, human intervention, professional referral, and responsibility allocation remain insufficiently examined. Future research should investigate integration into real care processes and clarify responsibilities among robots, older adults, caregivers, nursing staff, and clinical professionals.