Assistive social robots are designed for social interaction with humans and may play a role in improving the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. This review examines the effectiveness of these robots in elderly care. The study analyzed existing literature on the effects of assistive social robots on the elderly, focusing on their companion function. Data sources included MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, IEEE, ACM libraries, and Google Scholar, with records up to December 2007. The review included studies that reported effects of assistive robotics on elderly populations, with a focus on health and psychological well-being. The identified studies, published after 2000, indicate that assistive social robots may have positive effects on the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. However, the evidence is limited, and the research designs are not robust enough to establish these effects conclusively. Confounding variables often cannot be excluded, and the research methodology is unclear. The review highlights that most studies involve the robots Aibo, Paro, iCat, and Pearl, which are used for companionship and to enhance the well-being of the elderly. The review also discusses the different types of assistive robots, including service robots that support independent living and companion robots that provide companionship. Studies on companion robots have shown positive effects on mood, loneliness, and social connections. However, the research is limited in scope, with most studies conducted in Japan and involving elderly people in nursing homes. The review concludes that while there is some evidence of positive effects, the strength of the evidence is limited due to methodological issues, small sample sizes, and lack of long-term studies. Future research should focus on robust, large-scale studies and cross-cultural comparisons to better understand the effects of assistive social robots on the elderly.Assistive social robots are designed for social interaction with humans and may play a role in improving the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. This review examines the effectiveness of these robots in elderly care. The study analyzed existing literature on the effects of assistive social robots on the elderly, focusing on their companion function. Data sources included MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, The Cochrane Library, IEEE, ACM libraries, and Google Scholar, with records up to December 2007. The review included studies that reported effects of assistive robotics on elderly populations, with a focus on health and psychological well-being. The identified studies, published after 2000, indicate that assistive social robots may have positive effects on the health and psychological well-being of the elderly. However, the evidence is limited, and the research designs are not robust enough to establish these effects conclusively. Confounding variables often cannot be excluded, and the research methodology is unclear. The review highlights that most studies involve the robots Aibo, Paro, iCat, and Pearl, which are used for companionship and to enhance the well-being of the elderly. The review also discusses the different types of assistive robots, including service robots that support independent living and companion robots that provide companionship. Studies on companion robots have shown positive effects on mood, loneliness, and social connections. However, the research is limited in scope, with most studies conducted in Japan and involving elderly people in nursing homes. The review concludes that while there is some evidence of positive effects, the strength of the evidence is limited due to methodological issues, small sample sizes, and lack of long-term studies. Future research should focus on robust, large-scale studies and cross-cultural comparisons to better understand the effects of assistive social robots on the elderly.