First-of-its-kind U.S. study will examine how a humanoid companion robot influences daily life in a memory care neighborhood
CARMICHAEL, CA — MAY 28, 2026 — Eskaton, a leading nonprofit provider of senior living and services in Northern California, today announced the launch of a companion robot pilot in the memory care neighborhood at Eskaton Village Carmichael. The pilot brings Abi, a humanoid companion robot developed by Andromeda Robotics, into daily life alongside residents and care partners, and pairs the deployment with a longitudinal observational study led by researchers at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis.
Abi was created to address one of the most pervasive challenges facing older adults: loneliness. Abi stands 4 feet tall and is designed with expressive features, a playful personality, and the ability to converse in more than 90 languages. Abi recognizes faces, remembers past conversations, and adapts to each resident’s preferences over time. The robot is designed to spark conversation, lead small group activities such as singing and games, and offer one-to-one companionship in moments when it matters most.
“Companionship is medicine,” said Sheri Peifer, President and CEO of Eskaton. “The heart of our memory care neighborhoods is the relationships our team members build with residents every single day. Abi is here to enhance that work. Our hope is that she gives our care partners another way to bring joy, conversation and connection into a resident’s day, and she frees them to do what only a human can do. We are honored to welcome her to Eskaton Village Carmichael.”
Eskaton Village Carmichael was selected as the launch site for its established memory care neighborhood, its strong care team, and its history of welcoming innovative approaches to dementia care. The pilot will roll out in phases, beginning with facilitated introductions co-supported by Andromeda staff.
“Eskaton has spent nearly sixty years building communities grounded in relationships, dignity and connection, which is the exact philosophy that Abi was designed to support,” said Grace Brown, founder and CEO of Andromeda Robotics. “We are in the midst of a loneliness crisis, with more than a quarter of Americans over the age of 65 feeling isolated and lonely on a regular basis. This innovative program will bring joy, connection, and compassion to Eskaton’s memory care residents, and the ongoing research across our organizations will bring new insights and evidence to the broader elder care industry and how we can better scale companionship in the future.”
The pilot is structured as a learning and evaluation initiative designed to generate rigorous, independent evidence about how a companion robot performs in memory care before broader conclusions are drawn. To support that work, Eskaton is partnering with the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing on an observational study led by Principal Investigator Roschelle Fritz, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Co-Principal Investigator Shu-Fen Wung, PhD, MS, RN, ACNP-BC, FAAN. It will be the first one-year long observation of a humanoid companion robot in a memory care neighborhood.
“Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Fritz said. “If it’s going to be part of care, we have to understand how people relate to the robot over months, how staff interactions with residents and workflows change and how it shapes daily life. The value isn’t in the robot itself – it’s in what it does for human connection and dignity.”
The research team will examine how residents, care partners, and family members experience Abi’s presence, drawing on ethnographic field notes, validated psychosocial measures, interviews and focus groups, and routine engagement documentation. The study will also compare experiences in the pilot neighborhood with those in other Eskaton memory care neighborhoods.
“By studying technology over time in an environment known for its care excellence, we can move beyond novelty and assess the true value of these advancements. Eskaton Village Carmichael provides the organizational culture and relational foundation needed to evaluate how technology can be responsibly implemented to enhance the quality of care,” Wung added.
Participation in the pilot program is entirely voluntary. Residents and their families are fully informed about how the technology works and how data is used, and the research component of the pilot is conducted under appropriate ethical oversight, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) review.
The pilot has been shaped from the start by the team members who care for residents at Eskaton Village Carmichael, and their expertise will continue to guide how Abi is introduced, how she fits into daily rhythms, and how her presence supports the relationships already built in the community. The work reflects Eskaton’s broader commitment to advancing the future of senior living through innovation grounded in mission, a commitment the organization has carried forward since 1968.
For more information about Eskaton, visit eskaton.org. To learn more about Andromeda Robotics and Abi, visit andromedarobotics.ai.
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About Eskaton
Founded in 1968, Eskaton is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for older adults through innovative communities, services, and programs across Northern California. Eskaton serves thousands of older adults each year through independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and community-based services.
About the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis
The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at UC Davis prepares nurse leaders, scholars, and scientists to advance health and improve equitable outcomes for all. Its faculty conduct research that translates into practice across clinical, community, and residential care settings.
Media Contact:
Zach Melchori
VP Sales, Marketing & Brand Management, Eskaton
zach.melchiori@eskaton.org | 916-334-0810