Ont. retirement house utilizing robotic pets to boost dementia care

For many individuals, pets convey consolation, connection and pleasure – and the identical will be true even when the animal isn’t actual.

Robotic cats and canine are getting used to boost the care of individuals with dementia at Amica Senior Existence properties throughout the nation, together with Amica Dundas, the place Sarah St. Pierre is the life enrichment co-ordinator in assisted dwelling and reminiscence care.

“It’s magical,” St. Pierre says of the connection residents can have with the pets. “Generally they’ll look proper within the eyes of the cat particularly, and simply maintain on to their paw and begin petting them.”

The robotic pets are interactive and reply to the touch. They make sounds, blink and roll over, and you’ll really feel and listen to a coronary heart beat.

The pets are sometimes used one-on-one with residents who present curiosity in them. They are often significantly comforting to individuals who have had their very own canine or cat up to now.

“It calms individuals. You’ll be able to see somebody’s caring intuition simply takes over and needs to maintain the pet and luxury them, convey them near you,” says St. Pierre.

Carrie McAiney, an affiliate professor on the College of Waterloo’s College of Well being Sciences and Schlegel Analysis Chair in dementia, says pets convey unconditional love and security.

For individuals with dementia who’re dwelling in a care setting, McAiney says pets – even robotic ones – may also help with emotions of isolation.

“Having pets is one thing that may convey them pleasure, and happiness and security and convey again reminiscences of perhaps their very own pets or pets that they’d of their lives by way of different individuals.”

McAiney says extra analysis does must be performed on the advantages of robotic pets, and gives one warning: they will’t exchange human contact and reference to actual individuals.

Robotic pets will be simply ordered on-line, and the one upkeep required is battery alternative.

St. Pierre says the pets are particular and she or he’s seen how a lot pleasure they will convey, in addition to in some circumstances, improved communication.

“Significant moments are so necessary,” St. Pierre says. “In a day, to get these little significant moments, I really feel like I’ve performed my job.”