Table 2.

Responses to open question on general feelings towards companion robots for older people (Q4)

Response	N (%)	Example Evidence
Positive	44 (66)	“it would be very therapeutic for them” “I think it would be very successful in providing comfort to my relative with dementia, particularly the dog, for nostalgic purposes”
Mixed	10 (15)	“I struggle with the concept of replacing care with robotics but in neurodegenerative diseases such as AZ dementia it can be harder on family members sometimes and if it stimulates/soothes them then maybe” “A good idea, the problem would be making the robot responsive enough without it being too expensive”
Negative	5 (7)	“I would have thought it was a bit ridiculous” “I would be slightly worried of infantilising the person, the person may get upset or see it as a trick”
None	8 (12)