Robotic companions used in US elderly care to improve quality of life

This robotic cat makes residents at a home for seniors in the United States quite happy. Photos: TNS

Mary Thompson sits in a hallway at Glen Meadows Retirement Com­munity in Maryland, the United States, staring aimlessly. Since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s around six years ago, it’s been difficult to get the 86-year-old to interact with others, her son Mark Thomp­son says.

Most of her sentences don’t make sense and she doesn’t talk much. But place Henry – a robotic cat – in her lap, and her whole demeanour begins to change.