Care Companions

Buying advice

Expect comfort more than practical advice

Before buying a talking companion, think about what kind of conversation helps the person. In a 2026 survey published in Frontiers in Robotics and AI, 55 Japanese adults aged 65 to 74 rated reassurance and affirmation as the most effective encouragement from a conversational robot, while concrete suggestions for action worked best coming from a human partner. That points towards choosing a robot whose conversation leans on encouragement, without expecting useful advice from it. During a trial, listen to how the robot answers everyday worries and whether its tone suits the person.

Questions a care provider should put to makers

Care homes and home-care agencies need more than a demonstration. For any model that moves around a room, ask whether the maker's risk assessment follows ISO 13482:2014, the safety standard for personal care robots, and how it used the guidance in ISO/TR 23482-2:2019 on close contact between robots and people. Record the robot in each resident's care plan, along with how consent was given and who can stop its use. The WHO policy brief on ageism in artificial intelligence for health warns that AI products can build in assumptions about older people, so involve residents in testing and drop any settings that talk down to them.

Weighing up Paro, Hyodol and Cutii

At the October 2026 check, the Hyodol, at about $500, and the Cutii, at about $20,000, bracketed the listed prices, and all of them showed a price. Beyond the purchase, ask about the warranty, how repairs are handled and how long the person would be without the robot while it is away, because a sudden absence can upset someone who has grown attached. Check whether any service behind the robot carries a monthly fee, who pays it, and what happens to stored photos, messages or recordings if the contract ends or the person moves into residential care.

What to look for

• How the person will use it: voice, touch or a simple screen
• Who manages it: family app access, settings and privacy controls
• Charging and cleaning routines, especially in shared or communal spaces

Common questions

Can a companion robot replace a carer?

No. Depending on the model, a companion robot can offer conversation, activities or simply something to interact with, but it is not a substitute for people or professional care. Use it alongside the support already in place.

How should we introduce one to an older relative?

Involve them from the start. Choose the robot together, set it up with family or carers present, and agree who manages its settings and any shared photos or calls.

Sources and further reading

• An online survey of encouragement strategies for older adults' daily worries: a conversational robot versus a human partner — Frontiers in Robotics and AI.
  Survey of 55 Japanese adults aged 65 to 74 on which kinds of encouragement felt helpful from a robot versus a person.
• ISO/TR 23482-2:2019 Application of ISO 13482: application guidelines — International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
  Guidance for designers on applying ISO 13482 where care robots work in close contact with people.
• ISO 13482:2014 Safety requirements for personal care robots — International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
  Safety requirements for personal care robots, including mobile servant robots; a revised edition is at final-draft stage.