Aging at home
New York's State Office for the Aging began giving robotic pets to older adults who are socially isolated.
A dated step forward on the record
What the source says
“Since 2018, NYSOFA has been providing animatronic pets to older adults who experience social isolation.”
What it means
Robotic companion pets, from Ageless Innovation (Joy for All), is at stage 5 of 5 on our ladder: regulator-cleared or mass market. Its stage is set by other milestones on its record; this one adds to the history.
Human help: Our sources report it working without human help.
More on Robotic companion pets
- TechCrunch reported that New York's aging office had handed out more than 31,500 robot pets since 2018.
- New York launched a sixth round of its pet program with Ageless Innovation, delivering 4,725 more pets and games through the state's aging network.
- Ageless Innovation said it had delivered its 500,000th Joy for All pet.
- A randomized trial in UK care homes, published in JMIR Aging, concluded that low-cost robot pets such as Joy for All cats and dogs hold potential for the well-being of residents and people with dementia.
- Toy maker Hasbro's Joy for All robotic cats and dogs were taken over by a new company, Ageless Innovation.