RoboDog

June 11, 2006 Nursing Home Residents in the U.S. The National Center for Health Statistics estimates there are about 18,000 nursing homes in the U.S. About 1.6 million Americans are living in a nursing home. The average length of stay for nursing home residents is almost two-and-a-half years. Generally, a nursing home is used when a patient is unable to care for him/herself and needs more care than that which can be provided by family. Sometimes a nursing home may be a temporary placement for individuals who are recovering from surgery, illness or trauma. But in many cases, the facility provides permanent care for patients who most likely will not get better or have a condition that may progress (like those with Alzheimers). Pets for Nursing Home Residents Pets are popular companions for many people. According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, 63 percent of American households have at least one pet. Cats are the most popular pet - 90.5 million of them are household pets. Dog ownership takes a strong second in the list of favorite pets, with 73.9 million pet dogs in the U.S. Other popular pets include small animals (such as hamsters, gerbils and mice - 18.2 million), birds (16.6 million) and reptiles (11 million). Pets bring unconditional love and a sense of need to humans. Research suggests pet owners tend to be more sociable and friendly. Petting an animal is a soothing task that may decrease stress and promote relaxation. Some research suggests pet ownership may be associated with lower risk of health problems. When patients go to nursing homes, they are usually forced to give up their beloved pets. But many facilities now offer pet visitations and pet therapy. When animals visit nursing homes, residents tend to be more social and engaging. Alzheimers patients tend to have decreased signs of agitation and other behavior problems. Reaching for and stroking an animal encourages stretching and may increase range of motion in the arms. Robot Dogs in the Nursing Home Not everyone is excited to have pet visitations in the nursing home. Some residents may dislike animals or be afraid of them. In some people, exposure to animals can trigger an allergy or asthma attack. And while dogs who visit nursing homes are usually screened and trained, there is a risk of transmission of infectious diseases, behavioral problems (like barking or running) and "bathroom" accidents. Now, technology has come up with a compromise. The Sony Corporation has released a dog-like robot, called AIBO. The "dog" has sensors on its body, a camera in its nose and artificial intelligence. Like a real dog, AIBO has to be trained. The "dog" uses voice recognition technology to learn to recognize a voice (or voices) and respond to commands. AIBO responds to petting and has the same sense of energy and playfulness as a puppy. And just like a puppy, AIBO has moments when it doesnt want to listen or follow instructions. The "dog" can even learn to do tricks. When AIBO gets "hungry," its batteries are recharged via a loading dock. Unlike a real dog, AIBO doesnt cause allergies, doesnt need to be taken for a walk, doesnt need to be left out to use the "bathroom" (or leave unwanted messes), doesnt chew up furniture or carpet and doesnt need medical care. There are no worries about the robot biting or jumping up on patients or visitors. If a resident gets sick or becomes temporarily unable to care for AIBO, staff members dont have to find someone else to care for the animal. The "dog" is simply placed back onto the loading dock until a resident is ready and well-enough to "play." Researchers at St. Louis University are now studying if AIBO can help fight loneliness in nursing home residents as well as a real dog. Observers say residents seem to like having the robotic dog. And the animals may confer some of the same health benefits for humans as real dogs, but without the risks. One small study found adults who petted AIBO for several minutes had lower levels of stress hormones. (NOTE TO READERS: In March 2006, Sony Corporation discontinued production of AIBO. Remaining AIBOs will continue to be sold until the stock has been depleted.) AUDIENCE INQUIRY For information about AIBO, log on to the companys website at http://www.eu.aibo.com (NOTE: Sony Corporation has recently discontinued the production of AIBO.) For information on the use of pets: Delta Society, http://www.deltasociety.org Therapy Dogs International, http://www.tdi-dog.org For information on pet ownership: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, http://www.appma.org/press_industrytrends.asp BIBLIOGRAPHY "A Brief History," Flanders: Therapy Dogs International, downloaded from website (http://www.tdi-dog.org), May 3, 2006. Cangelosi, P., and C. Embrey, "The Healing Power of Dogs," Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, January 2006, Vol. 44, No. 1, pp. 17-20. Cutler, L., et al., "Assessing and Comparing Physical Environments for Nursing Home Residents," Gerontologist, February 2006, Vol. 46, No. 1, pp. 42-51. Fahey, Tom, et al.,. "Quality of Care for Elderly Residents in Nursing Home and Elderly People Living at Home," British Medical Journal, March 15, 2003, Vol. 326, No. 7389, p. 580. Fick, K., "The Influence of an Animal on Social Interactions of Nursing Home Residents in a Group Setting," American Journal of Occupational Therapy, June 1993, Vol. 47, No. 6, pp. 529-534. "For Seniors: Pets are Just Plain Healthy," Bellevue: The Delta Society, downloaded from website (http://www.deltasociety.org), May 3, 2006. Heady, Bruce, "Pet Ownership," Medical Journal of Australia, November 3, 2003, Vol. 179, No. 9, pp. 460-461. "Industry Statistics and Trends," Greenwich: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, downloaded from website (http://www.appma.org/press_industrytrends.asp), May 10, 2006. Johnson, R., and R. Meadows, "Older Latinos, Pets and Health," Western Journal of Nursing Research, October 2002, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 609-620. Kahn, Peter, Jr., et al., "‘I Care About Him as a Pal: Conceptions of Robotic Pets in Online AIBO Discussion Forums," CHI: Conference on Human Factors in Computer Systems, Minneapolis, April 20-25, 2002, pp. 632-633 Kaiser, L., et al., "A Dog and a ‘Happy Person Visit Nursing Home Residents," Western Journal of Nursing Research, October 2002, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 671-683. Kane, R., et al., "Rating the Importance of Nursing Home Residents Quality of Life," Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, December 2005, Vol. 53, No. 12, pp. 2076-2082. McCabe, B., et al., "Resident Dog in the Alzheimers Special Care Unit," Western Journal of Nursing Research, October 2002, Vol. 24, No. 6, pp. 684-696. Melson, Gail, et al., "Robots as Dogs?" CHI: Conference on Human Factors in Computer Systems, Portland, April 2-7, 2005, pp 1649-1652. Sarvinski, Anneli, Ph.D., et al., "Quality of Life in Old Age Described as a Sense of Well-Being, Meaning and Value," Journal of Advanced Nursing, October 2000, Vol. 32, No. 4, pp. 1025-1033. Wood, L., et al., "The Pet Connection," Social Science Medicine, September 2005, Vol. 61, No. 6, pp. 1159-1173. Wu, Adam, M.D., et al., "Acceptability and Impact of Pet Visitation on a Pediatric Cardiology Inpatient Unit," Journal of Pediatric Nursing, October 2002, Vol. 17, No. 5, pp. 354-362. Research compiled and edited by Barbara J. Fister