Evaluating a co-developed pet robot intervention and implementation for residents with dementia in long-term care

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Dementia Care

Background:

• Pet robots show promise for improving wellbeing in dementia care settings.
• Research is needed to integrate pet robots into residential aged care practice.
• This study co-developed and evaluated a pet robot intervention for residents with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To co-develop a pet robot intervention protocol with stakeholders.
• To evaluate the implementation and impact of the intervention in a residential aged care facility.
• To explore the experiences of residents, families, and staff with pet robot use.

Main Methods:

• Co-development of intervention protocol with aged care stakeholders.
• Implementation of a 6-week pet robot intervention for residents with dementia.
• Qualitative content analysis of semi-structured interviews with participants.

Main Results:

• Four themes emerged: robot attributes, facilitating connections, integration into care, and future impact.
• The study demonstrated the feasibility of a 6-week pet robot intervention.
• Participant feedback highlighted potential for increased social connection and participation.

Conclusions:

• The pet robot intervention is feasible and potentially impactful for residents with dementia.
• Findings offer insights into strategies for routine integration of pet robots in dementia care.
• Further research should refine and formally evaluate these integration strategies.