In East Sussex, lifelike robotic pets are being used to assist people with early-onset dementia.
East Sussex County Council’s RoboPets program seeks to serve as a diversion by providing a robotic cat or dog to people in the early stages of the condition.
50 robotic pets have been adopted since the pilot project’s April launch across the UK.
Carl Maynard, who oversees adult social care for the council, expressed his delight at the positive reaction.
He said: “A dementia diagnosis can come as a shock. This project aims to help people cope with the symptoms, by aiding independence and providing companionship and comfort.”
Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common cause of dementia, which can be a symptom of many different brain disorders.
The most prevalent symptom is memory loss, especially the difficulty recalling recent events.
According to the council, there were nearly 9,500 people in East Sussex were living with dementia.
The authority claimed that the robot pets not only assist when a client becomes anxious but also offer companionship that can lessen the stress experienced by caregivers. They are also a talking point, which can aid conversation.
The experience was “very humbling,” according to Claire, a social prescriber who recently delivered a pet.
She said the person immediately warmed up to the animal, gave it a name, talked to it, and stroked and brushed it.
The council’s occupational therapy team is currently working to find 50 additional clients whose health and wellbeing may benefit in light of the positive feedback received since the project’s inception.
The council declared that after the project’s completion in April 2024, it would determine whether it was cost-effective and whether the animals should be made more widely available.
Source-BBC
