NIH-funded research Sbir 2 grant

Stretching their Reach: Robotic Support for Older Adults with Memory Challenges

Official title: Stretching their Reach: Robotic Support for Older Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer's Dementia

Funded at Hello Robot INC · NIH-11408722 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A small robotic assistant helps older adults with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's stay independent at home while easing daily tasks for caregivers.

Quick facts

Grant typeSbir 2 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionHello Robot INC
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Martinez, United States)
Project startSeptember 15, 2021
Project endMay 31, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$1,011,827
NIH project number2R44AG072982-04A1
Project IDNIH-11408722 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Older adults (65+) with mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer’s disease/dementia and their caregivers, including those living alone.

Less likely to help

Seniors without cognitive impairment or those unable to use or benefit from assistive robotics.

What this research studies

This grant aims to advance a robot called Stretch to support older adults with cognitive challenges, especially those living alone, by providing reminders, cueing, social interaction prompts, and safety alerts. The project emphasizes real-world testing with older adults and their care partners, building on prior design work and naturalistic evaluations. It focuses on cognitive support, social engagement, and safety management to reduce caregiver burden and healthcare costs. Participants would be older adults with MCI or early ADRD who live in community settings and may interact with caregivers who are not always co-located.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the robot could help seniors live independently longer and lighten the load on family and professional caregivers.

How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows promise for assistive robots in supporting daily activities and caregiver relief, with ongoing improvements in usability.

Where this research is happening

  • Hello Robot INC
    Martinez, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Edsinger, Aaron — Hello Robot INC
  • Study coordinator: Edsinger, Aaron

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.