Some Florida Seniors Isolated with Alzheimer's and Dementia Due to the Pandemic Are Getting Robotic Therapy Pets

To help socially isolated senior Floridians with Alzheimer's disease and dementia cope with the COVID-19 quarantine, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs announced that it will provide them with therapeutic robotic pets, reports CNN . Research indicates that robotic pets have similar positive effects to traditional pet therapy, and have a high rate of success in decreasing social isolation for older adults. "We know social isolation disproportionately affects older adults, and COVID-19 has required people with dementia and their caregivers to remain alone for extended periods of time," said Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Produm. "We look forward to delivering these therapeutic robotic pets to those who will benefit from their companionship." The robotic pets were developed by Ageless Innovation, which is committed to creating fun and engaging products geared toward older adults. The Department of Elder Affairs will distribute 375 robotic pets to isolated Florida seniors, while Ageless Innovation also has teamed with the Association on Aging in New York to distribute up to 11,100 robots to vulnerable seniors in that state.