Let’s talk about seal
healing. Paro, a baby harp robotic seal that’s been around for some time
continues to convince many it is real. Paro was created to improve social
interactions and activity participation among institutionalized older adults. Those with dementia have particularly benefitted with
improved brain activity. While therapy with real animals has grown in
popularity, the reality of dog bites, allergies, disease, and lack of availability
have caused robotic animals to serve as great alternatives with proven results.
Robot-assisted therapy can be provided as a routine activity program and has
the potential to improve social health of older adults in residential care
facilities. In a study of robot-assisted animal therapy with older
adults, sixteen eligible participants received group robot-assisted therapy using a
seal-like robot pet for 30 minutes twice a week for 4 weeks. Assessments of
their communication and interaction skills were done. The 12 participants who
completed the study showed significant improvement in their communication and
interaction skills and activity participation.
Paro, the robotic seal, has
done a great job improving social health of older adults in many residential care facilities.
You can watch Paro improving lives through seal healing in this video:
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban
Nursing Homes is available in paperback and e-book editions
in America and other countries at online and offline booksellers.
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
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