Companion Robotic Pets and Older Adults

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Caregiver Burden; Social Behavior; Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Hasbro Joy for All robot pet companion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06246734

STUDY23090076

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research will assess the effect of companion robotic pets on the wellbeing of older adults and their family caregivers.

Full description

Social robot pets have been shown to have a positive impact on age-related physical, cognitive, emotional, and social challenges that affect independence and quality of life. These "pets" are designed to interact with people as a real pet might. They purr when stroked, make eye contact, have a heartbeat, turn toward a person when touched, are warm, and appear lifelike. Does introduction of such a pet reduce loneliness or promote engagement in older adults with cognitive or physical disability?

This research will determine if:

1. Older adults with disabilities engage with such robotic companions;
2. Placing a robotic pet in a home enhances mood and positive affect in older people;
3. Caregivers to these adults find the robots beneficial for their own mood and time use.

In a single-blind randomized controlled trial over 6-8 weeks, we hypothesize that older adults in the intervention arm will engage with the pets and show benefit in mood as reported by family caregivers.

Enrollment: 53 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Participating in Family Caregiver Support Program or OPTIONS Program administered by Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging
2. Provide unpaid family or friend caregiver support for at least 6 months
3. Older person aged 50+
4. Able to provide verbal informed consent

Exclusion criteria

1. Uncomfortable with robot pet companion in home
2. Family Caregiver < 18 years age

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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53 participants in 2 patient groups

Treatment, Immediate Robot Pet Companion

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a Hasbro Joy for All robotic pet. These are low cost (\< $150), life-like cats and dogs that respond to human interaction by making sounds or turning their head for eye contact. The robot companion pets are designed as supports for older people with cognitive impairment. In this trial, the older person can treat it like a pet or ignore it. Family caregivers will report on engagement with the pet and effects on mood.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hasbro Joy for All robot pet companion

Control, Delayed Robot Pet Companion

No Intervention group

Description:

During the 6-8 week trial, this group will not receive the robot pet companion but will complete baseline and follow-up assessments on teh same schedule as the treatment arm. Participants in this arm will receive the robot pet after the trial.