Abstract: The aging index has been increasing in Europe, and Portugal is currently one of the countries with the oldest population. In most cases, aging brings a physical decline that hinders a person's movement, physical and cognitive health and, consequently, agency. Several people see their autonomy jeopardized and their social lives slimmed, creating a sense of isolation and incapability. Technology can aid by helping to overcome possible barriers derived from aging and act as an expanding agent of freedom and agency but traditional approaches often compel individuals to adapt to technology, neglecting the uniqueness of each person. In this research, we investigated the integration of human values into robotic technologies for older adults, emphasizing the principles of Value-Sensitive Design (VSD) and Participatory Design (PD). Through interviews, insights were gathered into the core values of 15 older adults and the role of technology in achieving them. Findings revealed nuanced perspectives on Social Ties, Altruism, Freedom and Agency, Lifelong Learning and Traveling, and (Re)Discovering, emphasizing a diversity of attitudes toward technology adoption. Utilizing these findings, we crafted 15 Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) scenarios tailored to align with these values for analysis in participatory design sessions. The outcomes indicated a higher overall acceptance of scenarios centred around Social Ties, Life-long Learning, and Freedom and Agency. Additionally, we conducted an ethnographic case study to investigate the influence of a remotely controlled robot on familial relationships, providing valuable insights for the design of adaptive and value-driven robotic systems in the context of technology and aging.

Lay summary (by Claude 3 Sonnet): As people get older, it becomes harder for them to move around and stay healthy physically and mentally. This can make them feel isolated and unable to do things on their own. Technology could help older adults overcome these challenges and give them more freedom and independence. However, most technologies force older adults to adapt to the technology instead of the other way around. In this research, the scientists looked at how to design robot technologies that align with the core values of older adults. They interviewed 15 older adults to understand their values like social connections, helping others, freedom, learning, and exploring new things. The scientists then created scenarios where robots could help achieve those values. The older adults were most interested in robots that helped them stay socially connected, keep learning, and maintain their independence. The researchers also studied how a remote-controlled robot influenced family relationships, providing insights into designing adaptive, value-driven robot technologies for aging adults.