Research has shown that pet ownership can significantly reduce loneliness in older adults, and while robotic pets are not a complete solution, they have shown potential benefits, especially when human and animal interaction is limited. The NYSOFA has also partnered with tech companies to provide other services to older adults, such as social robots that help users connect with and monitor loved ones. Despite the recent nature of this phenomenon, the response has been positive, with many recipients forming strong attachments to their robotic pets.
Key takeaways:
- Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology developed a therapeutic robot called Paro in the early 1990s, which is still the best-known example of a therapeutic robot for older adults.
- Since 2018, New York state’s Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has distributed over 31,500 robot pets to older New Yorkers, with the retriever model being the most popular.
- Studies have shown that pet ownership can reduce loneliness in older adults, and robotic pets can provide similar benefits, especially when human and animal interaction is limited due to health reasons.
- The NYSOFA has 21 different partnerships with tech companies to provide services to older adults, including one with Intuition Robotics, which produces ElliQ, a social robot that helps users connect to and monitor loved ones.