Ten weeks in Hong Kong: Bob Hofstede explores cultural perspectives on care and technology
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For ten weeks, Bob Hofstede lived and worked in Hong Kong as a visiting researcher at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). The visit allowed the Vilans researcher and PhD candidate (TU Eindhoven) to expand his research on personalized communication for socially assistive robots to a cross-cultural care context.
During his time at PolyU, Bob explored how older adults and caregivers from different cultural backgrounds experience communication in care settings. Through interviews and focus groups with older adults, nurses and social workers, he examined how these insights can contribute to the development of more personalized and effective care technologies.
Talking to a care robot
Bob: 'Many older adults found it difficult to admit that they needed care. They also rarely expressed specific wishes to human caregivers. But when talking about a care robot, that hesitation suddenly disappeared. Participants openly described how they would like a robot to communicate: positive, encouraging and enthusiastic.'
Role of informal caregivers
For Bob, this observation reinforced the importance of looking beyond technology alone. Communication, care and technology are all shaped by cultural and social norms. Bob noticed that informal caregivers play a more prominent role in Hong Kong's care context compared to the Netherlands. He also observed that older adults' expectation from a caregiver, what they are comfortable expressing, and how they perceive support differ considerably across contexts and individuals.
Organisation of care and support
His research took him across Hong Kong, from community living rooms and caregiver support centres to care homes and gerontechnology labs. These visits gave Bob a firsthand impression of how care and support are organised in different community and care settings across Hong Kong. One memorable experience was a focus group with older adults over lunch in a traditional restaurant in Kowloon, where conversations about care, ageing and technology unfolded in a natural and informal setting. With his co-researcher Chelsea Chan Hei translating from Cantonese, Bob was able to gain insight into participants' experiences and perspectives.
Learning from researchers
Beyond the fieldwork, Bob became immersed in Hong Kong's vibrant research and care community. He attended scientific events, visited innovation labs and exchanged ideas with researchers and practitioners working on ageing, technology and long-term care. These encounters helped broaden his perspective and strengthened connections for future collaboration between researchers in Hong Kong and the Netherlands.
'Looking back, the experience left a lasting impression. It gave me the opportunity to experience a different healthcare context firsthand, learn from researchers, practitioners and older adults in Hong Kong, and build relationships that will continue long after the visit. The insights I gained into the role of culture in care and technology will shape my research for years to come and provide a strong foundation for future collaboration between Vilans and PolyU.'
Scientific publications
Now back at Vilans, Bob is working on translating these insights into scientific publications and practical knowledge products. The goal is to ensure that the lessons learned in Hong Kong can contribute to the development and implementation of care technology in Dutch long-term care setting, especially among older adults with various cultural backgrounds.