Abstract
Population ageing is one of the most significant demographic trends of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), by 2050 the number of people over 60 will double to more than 2 billion. This places a significant strain on health and social care systems. One innovative solution to improve the quality of life of older people and reduce the burden on healthcare professionals is the use of social humanoid robots (SHRs). These devices can provide emotional support, remind people to take their medication, assist with activities of daily living, and even promote social engagement. Objective. Analyze data on the use of social humanoid robots in elderly care, drawing on current scientific literature. Materials and methods. Reviews, original articles and meta-analyses published in English in the last 10 years were used for the analysis. Literature search was performed between February and April 2025 using Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, databases (MeSH terms such as “Socially Assistive Robots”, “Companion Robots”, “Humanoid Robot”, “Elderly” and «Care» were used for the search. Discussion. The use of social humanoid robots in the care of the elderly contributes to improving the quality of life and efficiency of healthcare. However, successful integration requires addressing technical, economic and ethical issues. Further research should assess the long-term impact, develop implementation strategies and analyze the social impact, considering the needs of the elderly and cultural sensitivities. Results. Research has shown that social humanoid robots reduce loneliness and anxiety, improve cognitive function and increase life satisfaction in older people. They promote their independence and well-being, but there remain unresolved issues of cost, ethics and social acceptance. Further research is needed to integrate these technologies into health and social care.