  In the field of Human Robot Interaction (HRI), socially assistive robots are
being investigated to see if they can help combat challenges that can come with
aging by providing different forms of support to older adults. As a result, it
is imperative that the HRI community are aware of the potential pitfalls that
can occur such as over-attachment, over-reliance, and increased isolation. This
position paper argues designers should (a) avoid pitfalls that can lead to a
negative impact on decline, and (b) leverage SAR decision making to avoid the
pitfalls while attaining the benefits of this technology. Finally, we describe
the concept for a framework as a starting point for addressing the concerns
raised in this paper.
