Over the last few years, I’ve written a couple articles about robotic pets and how they might be able to benefit seniors, especially those that live in a nursing home or assisted living setting. There’s no question that having a pet can help to boost someone’s mental health, but up until very recently, the benefits that robotic pets have only been observed and not scientifically studied. A team based out of Florida Atlantic University has attempted to fix that.
Researchers looked at affordable robotic animals during this study to attempt and measure the impact that they might have on an elderly individual’s mental health. Individuals in this study suffered from mild to moderate dementia, which is the population that observational studies have also observed a positive impact upon. What they found was actually quite surprising, even with the success that has been anecdotally observed in the past. More than half of those that participated in the study showed improvement on a cognitive ability test compared to where they were prior to the introduction of the robotic pet. Areas that showed the most improvement included attention, language, and registration. Participants also seemed to be better able to express their feelings after robotic pets had been present for a while.
The team published their findings in the October issue of Issues in Mental Health Nursing. Hopefully, this research continues to inspire and encourage other researchers across the world as they continue to make strides against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Pets aren’t right for everyone, but for those that love having an animal companion around, this can be a big help when it comes to little things that you can do to improve mental health. However, before you go out and buy a puppy for an elderly loved one, be sure that this is the right step for the family. A pet can be tough to care for, and not everyone is capable of giving the physical time and energy that is needed in order for the pet to really get the care and attention that it deserves, too. Talk about these kinds of decisions with other loved ones before committing to anything in order to ensure that everyone’s best interests are truly being pursued.
Senior care is complex, and the pet (and robotic pet) topic is a good example of just how hard it can be to make the right choices to ensure that your family’s best interests are really being sought after. A lot of decisions can be difficult, and a lot of times, you might feel like you’re forced to choose between a few options, none of which are great.
This is why teamwork is such a vital component of care. And we’d love to be a part of your team. Whether you have questions about care, are looking for something specific, or you just want to be a little bit more knowledgeable about how your family might benefit from working with a professional team of caregivers, let us know. We can help you to get started and pointed in the right direction.
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