We have been blown away by all of the support we have received over the past year. Here are some of the most recent articles and videos.
The Robo pets helping dementia and Parkinson’s patients
6th July 2021
"At the heart of this robot-revolution is Deborah Spratley, founder of Plymouth-based RoboPets, which distributes these devices to care homes across the UK."
"Deborah says: “The pets completely change a person’s mood. One of the last things that leaves a person with dementia is this feeling of nurturing but in their day-to-day lives they can’t do that. They are the ones being taken care of. By introducing the pets – and some dementia patients will believe they are real – it empowers them as they think they are taking care of and loving something, where normally they are the vulnerable ones. They have helped patients to feel less isolated during the pandemic and brought some comfort to those cut off from their loved ones."
"Through its good work the organisation has attracted a lot of media attention, such as starring in a special feature on BBC News which skyrocketed sales. “They showed one of the care homes in Essex we supply,” Deborah says. “That was where it stemmed from and the demand was just phenomenal."
Read the full article here
'Robo-pets' arrive in care homes
300 'robo-pets' have been introduced in care homes in Essex BBC Breakfast
24th April 2021
Doctor Rebecca Abbott, who is involved in the research at the University of Exeter, appeared on BBC Breakfast to speak with Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt, who were joined in the studio by a robotic cat called Thelma and a dog robopet called Goldie.
Dr Abbott said: "We did some research where we pulled together all of the studies which had been looking at robopets and they really do, for some, create this sense of comfort."
"These pets bring out a sense of curiosity, but they also provide a comfort and a bit of fun and something to care for. The research has shown that these robopets really do reduce isolation and agitation for some residents in care homes and not just residents with dementia. Residents like the sensory nature of the pet - having that touch and the fact that it actually responds is really key to the robopet working."
Irene Anderson, Dementia Care Co-ordinator from Essex NHS noted "One resident who continuously walked round, and will now sit down and cuddle the cat and speak to the cat, and another lady was non-verbal and is now trying to communicate with us"
Comments