While dementia assistance dogs (Dogs And Dementia) are growing in use and popularity, live pets are not always possible or appropriate for many sufferers of dementia. In recent years, a number of companies have brought to market animatronic (preset moves and prerecorded sounds) and robotic (supporting more complex tasks) “pets” for use with dementia patients. Principally these “pets” are dogs, some cats, and even a harp seal. They can be held, petted, and brushed by dementia patients, and can produce some sounds and motion. Studies (see below) have shown that use of the robotic pets can reduce the stress and anxiety often suffered by dementia patients, and reports indicate that some patients develop emotional bonds with the pets.
Here are five media articles about the developments:
Therapy Cats for Dementia Patients, Batteries Included
Robotic pets delight patients with dementia
Robotic Pets To The Rescue? Dementia Care Gets Innovative
Is this robotic therapy pet the uncanny valley of dog?
The Second Coming of the Robot Pet
And here are a number of research articles on the use of robot pets for dementia intervention:
Pet robot intervention for people with dementia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
The Utilization of Robotic Pets in Dementia Care.
How do “robopets” impact the health and well‐being of residents in care homes? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence
Effect of an interactive therapeutic robotic animal on engagement, mood states, agitation and psychotropic drug use in people with dementia: a cluster-randomised controlled trial protocol
Use of a Robotic Seal as a Therapeutic Tool to Improve Dementia Symptoms: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial
Robotic Pets: A Senior’s Best Friend?
All links have been added to Alzheimers > Coping & Caregivers > Dementia Assist Dogs & Robot Pets
