Perspectives on care robots in long-term care: A pilot qualitative study with caregivers and a resident

This exploratory pilot study examined the perspectives of care robots among three long-term care staff members and one cognitively intact resident at an Austrian care center. Semistructured interviews (German) explored how participants conceptualized "care robots" and which tasks they considered appropriate; no specific robot was deployed. The data were analyzed via a qualitative descriptive approach with inductive content analysis. The participants anticipated workload relief from robots handling routine, noncontact tasks (e.g., fetching items, transporting supplies, and providing documentation support), thereby freeing time for interpersonal care. Empathy and emotional support were described as inherently human; robots should support-not replace-caregivers. Acceptance was cautiously open and contingent on gradual introduction, staff training, and reliable technical support. The findings suggest that integrating assistive robots into logistical workflows may reduce burden while preserving person-centered care; larger studies are needed to reach data saturation and test implementation strategies.