Artificial Companionship and Emotional Continuity in Geriatric Mental Health: A Conceptual Examination of Substitution and Wellbeing

Abstract

This conceptual work examines how artificial companionship contributes to emotional steadiness in older adults through a structured framework that explains the processes involved in emotional substitution and relational interpretation. The analysis integrates perspectives from geriatric psychology, human machine interaction, and social communication theory to clarify how older adults make sense of artificial engagement when human contact becomes limited or irregular. The framework identifies three central conditions that shape emotional continuity. The first concerns the sense of presence created through familiar and consistent interaction. The second involves the interpretation of responsiveness as a form of mutual attention. The third relates to the manner in which artificial and human relationships are balanced within the broader emotional environment. Together, these conditions illustrate how artificial companionship can support comfort when users retain awareness of its limitations. Ethical considerations guide the interpretation of artificial behaviour to ensure that human relationships remain central to psychological wellbeing. The work also highlights the need for empirical exploration that captures the lived experiences of older adults and the diverse ways they integrate artificial companionship into daily emotional routines. These insights can inform future design and clinical strategies that respect authenticity and relational clarity in geriatric care.