A Framework for Recognizing and Regulating Emotions in the Elderly

This paper introduces a gerontechnological framework which enables real-time and continuous monitoring of the elderly and provides the best-tailored reactions of a social robot and the proper ambience in order to regulate the older person’s emotions towards a positive emotion. After describing the benefits of the framework for emotion recognition and regulation in the elderly, the eight levels that compose the framework are described. The framework recognizes emotions through studying physiological signals, facial expression and voice. Emotion regulation is enabled by tuning music, color and light to the specific need of the elderly.