Pets play an important companion role in many people’s lives; however giving a home to a real pet whilst caring for someone with dementia may not always be feasible. Robotic pets have been developed in recent years, and although will never be as an effective replacement as their live counterparts, they have many attributes that can have a positive impact on those with dementia and their carers.
A recent review of studies on Robopets for dementia patients suggested time spent with them lowered levels of agitation and depression*. For those with dementia who have fond memories of owning a pet in their past, spending time petting their Robopet, keeping them calm and engaged for periods of time, may enable their carer to have some quality time to themselves.