Help shape the future of robots in OT and dementia
Professional resources
Help shape the future of robots in OT and dementia
A national occupational therapy survey exploring the use of multifunctional robots in occupational therapy and dementia is now live. Occupational therapists across the UK are being invited to complete a national survey for an RCOT-funded project,‘ Co-creating the future: the use of multifunctional robots in occupational therapy and dementia’.
This research is being led by Edinburgh Napier University, in collaboration with the National Robotarium, Heriot Watt University and Alzheimer Scotland.
They are exploring how multifunctional robots could potentially support occupational therapy practice with people living with dementia and their caregivers.
They are interested in occupational therapists’ views, across all practice settings, as to the future of robotic technology and dementia. You can complete the survey at https:// survey. napier. ac. uk / n / zz93p. aspx.
This research has favourable ethical approval, granted by the Research and Integrity Committee within the School of Health and Social Care at Edinburgh Napier
University( Reference: SHSC3364832). If you have any questions about the research or survey, please contact either Dr Fiona Maclean, Principal Investigator F. Maclean @ napier. ac. uk or Lynne Bushby, Project Research Assistant
L. Bushby @ napier. ac. uk.
© Halfpoint via Getty Images
AI in occupational therapy
RCOT has published guidance that sets out advice for the safe and effective use of artificial intelligence( AI) in occupational therapy practice, education and research.
This resource explores how AI is already shaping our profession and what we need to do now to use it safely, ethically and effectively. AI in occupational therapy is not a‘ how to’ guide; it reflects the current capabilities of AI and takes a risk-based approach, with more permissive guidance for low-risk scenarios and greater oversight where there is potential for harm.
At the same time, we want the occupational therapy workforce to embrace the opportunities that AI offers and to think creatively about innovation and service improvement.
The guide introduces key types of AI, including: predictive analytics; large language models
( LLMs); generative AI; natural language processing( NLP); machine learning for diagnostics; robotic process automation( RPA); and agentic or autonomous AI systems.
Use this guidance together with employerspecific policies and procedures and national guidance. You should check which AI tools are approved for use in your organisation.
We’ ll review and update this guidance yearly( unless there are major changes) to reflect advancements in AI technology and evolving best practices in practice, education and research.
Let us know how you’ re using AI in your work – or what you’ d like to learn more about. This is just the beginning. Join the discussion on RCOT Communities at https:// bit. ly / 4m2hs41. Read the guidance at https:// bit. ly / 47tOVkk.
50 OTnews September 2025