Assessing the Effects of Robotic Pets on Patients With Dementia in the Acute Care Hospital Setting

In the researchers' words

Robotic pets can provide a source of affection and companionship for patients. This is especially important as individuals with dementia may receive infrequent visitation from family members if their families struggle with how to cope and communicate with their loved one. Several options such as the "Joy for All™" and "Paro" robotic pets offer a source of companionship that is both interactive and comforting. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMHCS) researchers are seeking to make companion pets available to patients with dementia to provide them with a supplemental enrichment experience that enhances their overall care and lowers their risk for superimposed delirium. The intervention will consist of providing a robotic pet to the patient within 48 hours of admission, which the patient will keep with them throughout their hospital stay and upon discharge. SMHCS researchers will evaluate the effects of the robotic pet interaction on patient delirium scores, as measured by the Nursing Delirium Screening Scale (Nu-DESC), length of stay, and the use of intravenous psychotropic medications, code greys, falls occurrence, restraint use, and IV dislodgement in patients with mild-to-moderate dementia. The Nu-DESC scale is a short assessment tool, estimated to take approximately 3-5 minutes to complete and is already part of standard care at SMHCS. This tool is used by nursing…