Hasbro's Joy for All Companion Cats
Joy for All Companion Cats, crafted by Ageless Innovation, are therapeutic robotic pets designed to bring comfort and companionship to the elderly and others requiring care. These robotic cats offer a realistic pet experience, responding to petting and vocalizations with lifelike purrs and movements. The benefits of such robotic companions have been documented in the broader context of therapeutic robots, which have been shown to provide social and emotional support, particularly in individuals with dementia, leading to improved outcomes in mental health and quality of life (Abbott et al., 2019; Pu et al., 2019).
Recent work in the field has focused on enhancing the interactivity and sensory feedback of robotic pets to make them more engaging and effective as therapeutic tools. Studies have highlighted the potential of these robots to reduce stress, promote social interaction, and even decrease the need for medication in some cases (Valenti Soler et al., 2015; Moyle et al., 2017).
The benefits of Joy for All Companion Cats are similar to therapeutic robotic pets suggesting that they are a valuable addition to care strategies, providing a unique form of companionship and emotional support that is both accessible and maintenance-free.
References
1. Pu, L., Moyle, W., Jones, C., & Todorovic, M. (2019). The effectiveness of social robots for older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. The Gerontologist, 59(1), e37-e51. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny046
2. Valenti Soler, M., Aguera-Ortiz, L., Olazaran Rodriguez, J., Mendoza Rebolledo, C., Perez Munoz, A., Rodriguez Perez, I., ... & Martinez Martin, P. (2015). Social robots in advanced dementia. Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience, 7, 133. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2015.00133
3. Moyle, W., Jones, C. J., Murfield, J. E., Thalib, L., Beattie, E. R. A., Shum, D. K. H., ... & Draper, B. M. (2017). Use of a robotic seal as a therapeutic tool to improve dementia symptoms: A cluster-randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 18(9), 766-773. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2017.03.018
4. Abbott, R., Orr, N., McGill, P., Whear, R., Bethel, A., Garside, R., ... & Thompson-Coon, J. (2019). How do "robopets" impact the health and well-being of residents in care homes? A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 14(3), e12239. https://doi.org/10.1111/opn.12239
