Smart home robot to help people with Alzheimer's live safely at home
Official title: Effectiveness and adoption of a Smart home-based social assistive robot for care of individuals with Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at University of New Hampshire · NIH-11171353 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use a mobile home robot to help people with Alzheimer's stay independent, safe, and better connected with their caregivers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Hampshire NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $618,865 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG075892-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171353 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People living at home with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease who have a family or formal caregiver willing to participate in an in-home pilot are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People in very late-stage Alzheimer's, those living in nursing homes or assisted-living facilities, or individuals without a caregiver or a compatible home environment may not benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers are building a mobile social assistive robot called MARSS that can move around the home and support everyday tasks. It combines four built-in features: activity engagement and assistance, telehealth, home safety monitoring, and caregiver–care recipient connectivity. The team will provide a simple training program so family caregivers or home health staff can set and adapt the robot without technical expertise. After earlier lab pilot work, MARSS will be piloted in people’s homes with a small group of individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers to see how it works in real settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the robot could help people with Alzheimer's stay at home longer, improve safety and daily functioning, and reduce caregiver stress.
How similar studies have gone: Small lab-based pilots of social assistive robots have shown promise, but community-based in-home testing of these systems is still limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Hampshire
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Arthanat, Sajay — University of New Hampshire
- Study coordinator: Arthanat, Sajay
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.