Why families should ask
If your parent’s senior living community is piloting KOKO, it is normal to have questions. A home robot in a shared community touches privacy, consent, and daily routines, and families often help residents decide.
The questions below are a starting point for a conversation with the community’s staff and, if needed, with the KOKO Care team at Homebot One Inc.
Consent and opting out
Ask how residents are invited to take part and how consent is recorded. If your parent is living with memory loss, ask how the community involves family members or representatives.
Ask how your parent can say no, or stop later. Taking part in a pilot should always be a choice, and a resident who opts out should still be welcome at activities.
- How is consent asked for and recorded?
- Can my parent stop at any time?
- Who decides if my parent cannot?
Privacy and photos
Ask what KOKO sees and hears during sessions, whether anything is recorded or stored, who can access it, and how it is deleted. Homebot One Inc describes privacy features such as a physical Memory Key for KOKO’s memories, a SoftSeal privacy cover for the camera, and the ability to delete memories, photos, or recordings.
Ask separately about photos and video. Many communities share activity photos in newsletters or online; you and your parent should be able to agree or decline before any image is shared.
Safety and supervision
Ask who is in the room during sessions and who operates KOKO. KOKO is designed to slow and stop near people, with collision detection and an emergency stop button.
It also helps to know the limits. KOKO never lifts, holds, or transfers a person, it is not a medical device, and it does not replace care from staff.
How to share feedback
Ask how the community collects feedback from residents and families, and when the pilot will be reviewed. Your observations matter: whether your parent enjoyed it, talked about it afterward, or found anything confusing.
If you want to try KOKO at home with your family, Homebot One Inc also runs in-home testing that you can apply for from homebotone.com.
Frequently asked questions
Can my parent decline to take part in a KOKO pilot?
Taking part should always be a choice. Ask the community how residents opt out or stop later, and how representatives are involved if needed.
Does KOKO record residents?
Ask the community and the KOKO Care team what is seen, heard, stored, and deleted during the pilot. Homebot One Inc describes a Memory Key, a SoftSeal privacy cover, and the ability to delete memories, photos, or recordings.
Is someone supervising KOKO during sessions?
Ask who is in the room and who operates KOKO. Sessions should be run with staff present.
Sources & further reading
From Homebot One Inc, the team building KOKO in Fremont, California.
