My cousin Kathie had dementia and loved cats. In her later years, she needed to live in a nursing home because of her dementia. She was unable to live safely at home. She always had cats and was delighted with their company and antics. I bought her all kinds of shapes, colors and sizes of stuffed animal cats, which she enjoyed having around but ignored after a few minutes. She died in 2009.
I wish she was alive today so I could get her a robot cat. Older people often can’t take care of pets. They are too much work. Feeding, cleaning up after them, exercise and vet visits are impossible to keep up with. New information suggests that those with dementia can benefit from fake (robotic) pets.[1] They help calm agitation, and in some cases bring out the interest in speaking to the pet and others.
In light of that, we have two new members in my office. A golden retriever robotic puppy and a black and white long hair robotic cat. They have different personalities. They respond to petting of course, but also if you just walk by, they bark or purr. We have them to help our caregiver clients who are not comfortable leaving their demented loved one alone while they come to our office. It is our hope the animals will help the demented person be more at ease in our space.
We have had our new pets for one week. They sit together in the waiting area. When they bark or mew spontaneously, we all just laugh.
If you are interested in one for your loved one, a reference is Ageless Innovation– Joy For All Companion Pets (robotic stuffed animals).
I am attaching a picture of our new furry friends. They have no name. Please submit your suggestions by June 1. You can email us at info@senioredgelegal.com, or you can submit your suggestion via our website’s Contact Us page. We will let everyone know and give a donation to the Idaho Humane Society in the name of the winner.
[1] “New Hopes for Dementia Care”, Tia Powell, The Wall Street Journal, April 11, 2019
