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Companion pets are the perfect partners for isolated older adults. Whether they’re apart from family or in socially distant living situations, there is no problem a warm and cuddly animal can’t ease.
However, they can be quite challenging for some elderly to take care, especially if they have Dementia or Alzheimer’s. The upkeep, maintenance, and responsibility required by taking care of these live pets can be too much. Enter robotic pets! Robotic pets are a great alternative to living pets. Similar to live pets, robotic pets can give joy, love, and affection to their owners — children and adults alike.
If you’re thinking of buying robotic pets gift for your older loved one, look no further. We compiled all the best companion pets for seniors right here. From a robotic cat to a chirping bird, we have it all covered. Let’s take a look at some of these robotic pets that may be what your loved ones need in their lives!
The Joy For All Freckled PupThe Joy For All Freckled Pup acts and feels like a real dog but has all the fun and convenience of a robotic pet. | Joy For All Companion Pets Golden PupThe Joy For All Companion Pets Golden Pup takes hassle-free but warm companionship to another level. | Perfect Petzzz KittenThe Perfect Petzzz Kitten is certainly the perfect robotic cat for owners who would like a cuddly companion to stay by their side 24/7. |
Price: Functionality: Quality: | Price: Functionality: Quality: | Price: Functionality: Quality: |
The Joy For All Freckled Pup is one of the best robotic pets for isolated seniors. This robotic pet is perfect as it provides interactive play for older adults in social isolation.
Designed after a real dog with a beautiful, thick brown coat, a freckled muzzle, large floppy ears, and piercing eyes, the Joy For All Freckled Pup from Ageless Innovation will paw its way into anyone’s heart one bark at a time. It comes with the same innovative features that we love in other Ageless Innovation robotic pets, like bark-back technology, realistic movements, and a heartbeat that makes it incredibly lifelike. According to the company CEO Ted Fischer, this realism is what makes these robotic pets perfect for seniors.
Give your elderly loved ones the gift of a warm, hassle-free pet robotic dog that they can form attachments with. The Freckled Pup’s advanced technology makes for rich social interactive play for those living in senior communities. This robotic pet’s sensors are located all over its body, so one can touch its head, rub its belly, or hug it and stimulate realistic responses like nuzzling, barking, and wagging its tail.
Pros | Cons |
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✔️ Soft, cuddly fur ✔️ Realistic movements and gestures compared to most robotic pets ✔️ Highly interactive and hassle-free ✔️ Perfect for companionship | ✖️ More expensive than traditional plushes and robotic pets |
Ageless Innovation’s Joy For All line is one of the leading brands for robotic pets. Their robotic pets are made for the elderly, young kids, and everyone in between. After all, there’s no age limit to the joys of pet ownership. However, the Joy For All Golden Pup is a particularly great robotic pet for isolated seniors.
This robotic pet sparks joy no matter where it is. It has the same state-of-the-art features that make it a realistic substitute for traditional pets, without the added responsibility. Alas, such is the joy and benefit of having robotic pets as companion pets.
The Golden Pup is covered in a beautiful light brown coat with synthetic fur modeled after real golden retrievers. It even sounds like them, too. The puppy’s bark and noises were recorded from real dogs, making its sounds as realistic and lifelike as possible. Its touch-interactive sensors make for a personally rich experience; by petting, belly-rubbing, and hugging the robotic pet, your elderly loved ones can boost their mood and improve their overall quality of living.
Pros | Cons |
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✔️ Perfect for all ages ✔️ Has a lifelike fur coat ✔️ Makes realistic puppy sounds ✔️ Has a thumping “heartbeat” | ✖️ Lacks voice recognition for voice commands ✖️ Not remote controlled |
What seniors look for in companion pets may be very different from the traits we find so adorable in real pets. For example, even though a hyper-active puppy or cool cat may bring joy to the whole family, leaving a physically limited older adult to care for one may not be the best idea. That’s why our next pick is an adorable stuffed animal: the Perfect Petzzz Kitten.
Covered in beautiful synthetic black fur, the Perfect Petzzz Kitten won’t make a mess. This robotic cat companion pet won’t bite your shoe, chew up a hair tie, or poop in rugs. Instead, this robotic cat will sit calmly beside you as you pet it, snoring happily into blissful sleep. It’s also made of hypoallergenic fur so the owner does not have to worry about an allergic reaction to pet hair. Certainly, this companion pet will bring comfort and joy to your loved one.
We’ve mentioned above that the independent nature of real cats make them an ideal fit for socially isolated nursing home residents. After all, they’re low-maintenance and can pretty much clean up after themselves as long as there’s a litter box and cat food nearby. That’s why a robotic cat (or robotic pets) makes an even better companion pet in social isolation. If your senior loved one is longing for physical touch and companionship of a pet or animal, robotic pets such as this cat are perfect for providing much-needed two-way interaction and can help reduce depression.
Pros | Cons |
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✔️ Realistic, soft, and hypoallergenic fur ✔️ Breathes and snores like a live animal ✔️ Has cute poses | ✖️ Lacks advanced features |
For a more true-to-life experience, the Joy For All Silver Tabby is the perfect companion pet you may find comfort in. With more features and movements than traditional stuffed animals, the beautiful silver tabby mimics the sounds and movements of a live cat to provide the best social experience for anyone.
If you’re someone who misses the purring of a real cat, the VibraPurr technology developed by Ageless Innovation ensures that the tabby responds to each touch almost like a real animal would. This robotic cat rubs its head against you and meows so sweetly you won’t know the difference from a live cat.
Older adults are sure to love the size of this robot cat. At 10 inches tall and 15 inches wide, the size of the Silver Tabby rivals that of a large cat – perfect for petting, hugging whenever one needs a quick stress reliever.
Pros | Cons |
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✔️ Looks and moves like a real cat ✔️ Has VibraPurr technology ✔️ Artificial intelligence helps it respond to the human touch ✔️ Long battery life | ✖️ Not built for play mode |
Birds are also worthy robotic pets for seniors. These robotic pets are low-maintenance, great listeners, and beautiful to look at, too. While these robotic pets don’t encourage physical activity or even tactile comfort, they make the perfect simple partner for those who are living in nursing homes and away from the presence of family members.
The Haktoys Singing & Chirping Bird is a wonderful parakeet that loves to sing, entertaining anyone of all ages day and night. This robotic pet is designed with a microchip that senses sound from its surroundings, so if you talk to it, it will respond by singing a beautiful bird song — like live animals.
With a diameter of 5 x 7.5 inches, this robotic pet parakeet can be brought anywhere. Place it by the window, on your bedside table, or bring it with you on a morning stroll – these robotic pets will be happy to come and chirp alongside its owner for a different kind of quality time and companionship.
Pros | Cons |
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✔️ Affordable ✔️ Bright colors ✔️ Low-maintenance ✔️ Can respond to sound by singing and chirping | ✖️ Cheap plastic material ✖️ Lacks features for social interactions other robotic pets have |
While robotic pets cannot completely replace their living counterparts, they are a great alternative for the elderly and even children who might not be able to own and take care of real ones. This may be due to personal reasons, health reasons, and other factors that are beyond their control.
Although there are instances wherein live pets triumph over robotic pets since they are able to provide social interactions that cannot be perfectly mimicked by the latter, manufacturers are working hard in developing technology that can make up for this. The VibraPurr Technology of Ageless Innovation is a great example of this as their robotic pets are working hard in providing the most realistic pet ownership experience one may get from robotic pets.
There are plenty of real-life stories where robotic pets have proven to be good or even better than real ones for the elderly. Although the benefits of robotic pets vary depending on the setting, needs, environment, and person, the bottom line is robotic pets are a great alternative to those who are in need and are looking for one.
Residents of nursing homes are more at risk of developing feelings of depression, loneliness, and isolation due to the lack of social interaction in their everyday lives. One way to combat feelings of loneliness is by having a companion pet or robotic pet by their side. Whether it’s a real pet or a robotic pet may depend on each individual’s situation, but both are shown to be helpful in improving the health and overall quality of living of elderly nursing home residents, especially those combatting Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
There are also plenty of other ways robotic pets can help the elderly who are experiencing cognitive decline. A recent study done by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs has successfully shown that robotic pets help with cognitive impairments in patients who live with Alzheimer’s disease and Dementia. The robotic pets were able to aid patients with memory recall after a few days of socializing. After a year, 70% of the robotic pet adoptees also indicated a significant reduction in feelings of isolation.
Finding the ideal robotic pet for your aging loved ones may seem tricky at first. But with the right tips and toys, you’ll find that there are so many great robotic pets to choose from!
The Joy For All Companion Robotic Pets line were designed almost specifically to keep nursing home residents company. Isolation and loneliness are difficult for everyone, and having little to no social interaction can contribute to negative emotions, mental challenges, and health problems.
The Joy For All Freckled Pup is one of the friendliest in the company’s line of lovable robotic pets. This companion pet has an adorable freckled muzzle, big floppy ears, and a super thick coat that makes it perfect for hugging and cuddling all day long.
Owners can talk and interact with this pet as often as they please, and surprise – the dog will bark back! This makes it our pick for the best companion pet and robotic pet for older adults and even children.
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