Implementing socially assistive robots in geriatric care: a qualitative study of caregivers' practical and moral experiences.

BACKGROUND: Socially assistive robots (SARs) are increasingly introduced into geriatric care as a potential solution to workforce shortages and growing demands. However, their implementation raises ethical concerns about how these technologies can support good care, concerns that often remain technology-centered, with limited attention to how they emerge in everyday practices. Understanding professional caregivers' perspective is crucial, as they are responsible for implementing this technology in practice. AIM: This study examines how professional caregivers experience SAR implementation in geriatric care, focusing on practical and moral challenges and their development over time. DESIGN AND METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using twelve semi-structured interviews with fourteen professional caregivers in Germany. The data were analyzed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Potsdam (No. 84/2022). FINDINGS: Caregivers described SAR implementation as a dynamic and evolving process. Four analytical phases were identified: (1) establishing orientation and conditions, (2) adopting and introducing SARs, (3) maintaining routine use, and (4) reassessing continued use. Throughout these phases, implementation unfolded as an ongoing reflective process in which practical and moral demands shifted systematically as caregivers balanced technological possibilities, organizational expectations, and the residents' needs. CONCLUSIONS: The phase-oriented model provides a temporal structure of the implementation of SARs. It emphasizes the importance of supporting the caregivers' professional judgment, as well as contextual sensitivity to promote their sustainable and ethical use. Responsible implementation of SARs by practitioners and decision-makers should follow a phase-sensitive approach.